bosom as the Spouse did Cant. 1.13 lye betwixt my Breasts What was said of Ignatius that the Name of Jesus was found written in his heart should be verified of every Saint he should have Jesus Christ written in his heart CHRIST a Prophet DEUT. 18.15 The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet c. HAving spoken of the Person of Christ we are next to speak of the Offices of Christ Prophetical Priestly Regal 1. Prophetical The Lord thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet Enunciatur hic locus de Christo 't is spoken of Christ. There are several Names given to Christ as a Prophet He is called the Counsellor Isa. 6.9 In uno Christo Angelus faederis completur Fagius The Angel of the Covenant Mal. 3.1 a Lamp 2 Sam. 22.29 the bright Morning-star Rev. 22.16 Jesus Christ is the great Prophet of his Church the Woman of Samaria gave a shrewd guess Iohn 4.19 He is the best Teacher he makes all other teaching effectual Luke 24.45 Then opened he their Understanding He did not only open the Scriptures but opened their Understanding He teacheth to profit Isa. 48.17 I am the Lord thy God who teacheth thee to profit Quest. How Christ teacheth Resp. 1. Externally By his Word Psal. 119.105 Thy Word is a Lamp unto my feet Such as pretend to have a Light or Revelation above the Word or contrary to it never had their Teaching from Christ Isa. 8.20 2. Christ teacheth these sacred Mysteries Inwardly by the Spirit John 16.13 The World knows not what it is 1 Cor. 2.14 The natural man receives not the things of God neither can ye know them He knows not what it is to be Transformed by the renewing of the mind Rom. 12.2 or what the inward workings of the Spirit means these are Riddles and Paradoxes to him He may have more insight into the things of the World then a Believer but he doth not see the deep things of God A Swine may see an Acorn under the Tree but he cannot see a Star he who is taught of Christ sees the Arcana imperii the Secrets of the Kingdom of Heaven Quest. What are the Lessons Christ teacheth Answ. 1. He teacheth us to see into our own Hearts Take the most Mercurial Wits the greatest Politicians that understand the Mysteries of State yet they know not the Mysteries of their own Hearts they cannot believe there is that Evil in them as is 2 Kings 8.13 Is thy servant a dog Grande profundum est homo Aug. The Heart is a great deep which is not easily fathomed But Christ when he teacheth removes the Vail of Ignorance and lights a Man into his own Heart And now he sees swarms of vain Thoughts he blusheth to see how Sin mingles with his Duties his Stars are mixt with Clouds he prays as Austin that God would deliver him from himself 2. The second Lesson Christ teacheth is the Vanity of the Creature A Natural Man sets up his Happiness here worships the golden Image but he that Christ hath anointed with his Eye-salve hath a Spirit of Discerning he looks upon the Creature in its night dress sees it to be empty and unsatisfying not commensurate to an Heaven-born Soul Solomon had put all the Creatures into a Limbeck and when he came to extract the Spirits and Quintissence all was Vanity Eccl. 2.11 The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Show or Apparition 1 Cor. 7.31 having no intrinsical Goodness 3. The third Lesson is the Excellency of Things unseen Christ gives the Soul a sight of Glory a prospect of Eternity 2 Cor. 4.18 We look not at things which are seen but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 things which are not seen Moses saw him who is invisible Hebr. 11.27 And the Patriarks saw a better Country viz. an heavenly Hebr. 11.16 where Delights of Angels Rivers of Pleasure the Flower of Joy fully ripe and blown Quest. How doth Christ's Teaching differ from other Teaching Resp. Several ways 1. Christ teacheth the Heart Others may teach the Ear Christ the Heart Acts 16.14 Whose heart the Lord opened All that the Dispensers of the Word can do is but to work Knowledge Christ works Grace They can but give you the light of the Truth Christ gives you the love of the Truth They can only teach you what to believe Christ teacheth how to believe 2 Christ gives us a Taste of the Word Ministers may set the Food of the Word before you and carve it out to you but it is only Christ causeth you to taste it 1 Pet. 2.3 If so be ye have tasted the Lord is gracious Psal. 34.8 Taste and see that the Lord is good It is one thing to hear a Truth preached another thing to taste it one thing to read a Promise another thing to taste it David had got a taste of the Word Psal. 119.102 103. Thou hast taught me How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then honey to my mouth The Apostle calls it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the savour of Knowledge 2 Cor. 2.14 The light of Knowledge is one thing the savour another Christ makes us taste a savoriness in the Word 3. Christ when he teacheth makes us obey Others may instruct but cannot command obedience They teach to be humble but Men remain proud The Prophet had been denouncing Judgments against the People of Iudah but they would not hear Ier. 44.17 We will do whatsoever goeth out of our own mouth to bake cakes to the Queen of Heaven Men come quasi armed in Coat of Male that the Sword of the Word will not enter but when Christ comes to teach he removes this obstinacy he not only informs the Judgment but inclines the Will He doth not only come with the Light of his Word but the Rod of his Strength and makes the stubborn sinner yield to him His Grace is irresistible 4. Christ teacheth easily Others teach with difficulty Difficulty in finding out a Truth and in inculcating it Isa. 28.10 Precept must be upon precept line upon line some may Teach all their lives and the Word take no impression They complain as Isa. 49.4 I have spent my labour in vain Plough on Rocks But Christ the great Prophet teacheth with ease He can with the least touch of his Spirit convert He can say Let there be light with a word he conveys Grace 5. Christ when he teacheth makes Men willing to learn Men may teach others but they have no mind to learn Prov. 1.7 Fools despise instruction they rage at the Word as if a Patient should rage at the Physician when he brings him a Cordial thus backward are Men to their own Salvation But Christ makes his People a willing people Psal. 110.3 they prize Knowledge and hang it as a Jewel upon their Ear. Those that Christ teacheth say as Isa. 2.3 Come let us go up to the Mountain of the Lord and he will teach us of his ways and we will walk in
them and as Acts 10.33 We are all here present before God to hear all things commanded 6. Christ when he Teacheth doth not only illuminate but animate He doth so teach as he doth quicken Iohn 8.12 I am the light of the world he that follows me shall have lumen vitae the light of life By Nature we are dead therefore unfit for teaching who will make an Oration to the Dead But Christ teacheth them that are dead he gives the light of life as when Lazarus was dead Christ said Come forth and he made the dead to hear Lazarus came forth So when Christ saith to the dead Soul Come forth of the Grave of Unbelief he hears Christ's voice and comes forth it is the Light of Life The Philosophers saith Calor lux concrescunt Light and Heat encrease together 'T is true here where Christ comes with his Light there is the heat of Spiritual Life going along with it Use 1. of Information Branch 1. See here an Argument of Christ's Divinity Had he not been God he could never have known the Mind of God or revealed to us those Arcana Caeli those deep Mysteries which no Man or Angel could find out Who but God can anoint the eyes of the blind and give not only light but sight who but he who hath the Key of David can open the Heart who but God can bow the iron sinew of the Will He only who is God can enlighten the Conscience and make the stoney Heart bleed Branch 2. See what a Cornucopia or Plenty of Wisdom is in Christ who is the Great Doctor of his Church and gives saving knowledge to all the Elect. The Body of the Sun must needs be full of Charity and Brightness which enlightens the whole World Christ is the great Luminary In him are hid all Treasures of Knowledge Col. 2.3 The middle Lamp of the Sanctuary gave light to all the other Lamps Christ duffuseth his glorious Light to others We are apt to admire the Learning of Aristotle and Plato alas what is this poor Spaâ—k of Light to that which is in Christ from whose infinite Wisdom both Men and Angels light their Lamp Branch 3. See the Misery of Men in the state of Nature before Christ came to be their Prophet they are inveloped with Ignorance and Daâ—kness Men know nothing in a salvifical sanctified manner they know nothing as they ought to know 1 Cor. 8.2 This is sad 1. Men in the dark cannot discern Colours so in the state of Nature they cannot discern between Morality and Grace they take one for the other pro dea nubem 2. In the dark the greatest Beauty is hid Let there be rare Flowers in the Garden and Pictures in the Room yet in the dark their Beauty is vail'd over so though there be such transcendent Beauty in Christ as amazeth the Angels a Man in the state of Nature sees none of this Beauty What is Christ to him or Heaven to him the vail is upon his heart 3. A Man in the dark is in danger every step he goes so a Man in the state of Nature is in danger every step of falling into Hell Thus it is before Christ teacheth us nay the darkness in which a Sinner is while in an unregenerate state is worse then natural darkness for natural darkness affrights Gen. 15.12 An horrour of great darkness fell upon Abraham But the Spiritual Darkness is not accompanied with horrour Men tremble not at their condition nay they like their condition well enough Iohn 3.19 Men loved darkness This is their sad condition till Jesus Christ comes as a Prophet to teach them and to turn them from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God Branch 4. See the happy condition of the Children of God they have Christ to be their Prophet Isa. 54.13 All thy children shall be taught of the Lord. 1 Cor. 1.30 He is made to us wisdom One Man cannot see by anothers eye but Believers see with Christ's eyes in his light they see light Christ gives them the light of Grace and light of Glory Use 2. Labour to have Christ for your Prophet he teacheth savingly he is an interpreter of a thousand he can untie those Knots which puzzle the very Angels till Christ teach never learn any Lesson till Christ is made to us wisdom we shall never be wise to Salvation Quest. What shall we do to have Christ for our Teacher Resp. 1. See your need of Christ's Teaching you cannot see your way without this Morning Star Some speak much of the Light of Reason improved Alas the Plumb-line of Reason is too short to Fathom the deep things of God the Light of Reason will no more help a Man to believe then the light of a Candle will help him to understand A Man can no more by the power of Nature reach Christ then an Infant can reach the top of the Pyramids or the Ostridge fly up to the Stars See your need of Christ's Anointing and Teaching Rev. 3.18 2. Go to Christ to teach you Psal. 25.5 Lead me in thy truth and teach me As one of the Disciples said Lord teach us to pray Luke 11.1 so Lord teach me to profit Do thou light my Lamp O thou great Prophet of thy Church give me a Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation that I may see things in another manner then ever I saw them before Teach me in the Word to hear thy Voice and in the Sacrament to discern thy Body Psal. 13.3 Lighten mine eyes c. Cathedram habet in coelo qui corda docet in terra Aug. He hath his Pulpit in Heaven who converts Souls And that we may be encouraged to go to Christ our great Prophet 1. Jesus Christ is very willing to teach us Why else did he enter into the Calling of the Ministry but to teach the Mysteries of Heaven Matth. 4.23 Iesus went about teaching and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of diseases among the people Why did he take the Office Prophetical upon him why was Christ so angry with them that kept away the Key of Knowledge Luke 11.52 why was Christ anointed with the Spirit without measure but that he might anoint us with Knowledge Knowledge is in Christ as Milk in the Breast for the Child O then go to Christ to Teach None in the Gospel came to Christ for sight but he restored their eye-sight And sure Christ is more willing to work a cure upon a blind Soul than ever he was upon a blind Body 2. There are none so dull and ignorant but Christ can teach them Every one is not fit to make a Philosophers Scholar of Ex omni ligno non fit Mercurius but there is none so dull but Christ can make a good Scholar of such as are ignorant and of low parts Christ teacheth them in such a manner that they know more then the great Sages and Wisemen of the World
Errour and judge what is sound and what spurious Acts 17.11 The Bereans search'd the scriptures daily whether those things were so They weighed the Doctrine they heard whether it was agreeable to Scripture tho' Paul and Silas were their Teachers 2 Tim. 3.16 Use 1. See the wonderful goodness of God who besides the Light of Nature hath committed to us the Sacred Scriptures The Heathens are inveloped with Ignorance Psal. 147.20 As for his judgments they have not known them They have the Oracles of the Sybils but not the Writings of Moses and the Apostles How many live in the Region of Death where this bright Star of Scripture never appeared We have this blessed Book of God to resolve all our Cases to chalk out a Way of Life to us Iohn 14.22 Lord How is it thou wilt show thy self to us and not unto the World 2. Seeing God hath given us his written Word to be our Directory this takes away all Excuses from Men. No Man can say I went wrong for want of a Light no God hath given thee his Word as a Lamp to thy feet therefore now if thou goest wrong thou dost it wilfully No Man can say If I had known the Will of God I would have obeyed no thou art inexcusable O Man God hath given thee a Rule to go by he hath written his Law with his own finger Therefore now if thou obeyest not thou hast no Apology left If a Master leaves his Mind in writing with his Servant and tells him what Work he will have done yet the Servant neglects the Work that Servant is left without Excuse Iohn 15.22 Now ye have no Cloak for your sin Use 2. Is all Scripture of Divine Inspiration is it a Book made by GOD himself Then this reproves 1. The Papists who take away part of Scripture and so clip the King of Heaven's Coin they expunge the second Commandment out of their Catechisms because it makes against Images 't is usual with them if they meet with any thing in Scripture which they dislike either they put a false Gloss upon it or if that will not do pretend it is corrupted these are like Ananias who kept back part of the Money Acts 5.2 so they keep back part of Scripture from the People This is an high Affront to God to deface and obliterate any part of his Word by this they bring themselves under that Premunire Rev. 22.19 If any man shall take away from the words of the book this prophesie God shall take away his part out of the book of life Is all Scripture of Divine Inspiration 2. It condemns the Antinomians that lay aside the Old Testament as useless and out of date they call them Old Testament Christians God hath stamp'd a Divine Majesty upon both Testaments and till they can shew me where God hath given a Repeal to the Old it stands in force The two Testaments are the two Wells of Salvation the Antinomians would stop up one of these Wells they would dry up one of the Brests of Scripture There is much Gospel in the Old Testament The Comforts of the Gospel in the New Testament have their rise from the Old The great Promise of the Messiah is in the Old Testament A Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son Nay I say more the Moral Law in some part of it speaks Gospel I am the Lord thy God here is the pure Wine of the Gospel The Saints great Charter where God promiseth to pour clean water on them and put his spirit within them is to be found primarily in the Old Testament Ezek. 36.26 So that they who go to take away the Old Testament do as Sampson Pull down the pillars they would take away the Pillars of a Christian's Comfort 3. It condemns the Enthusiasts who pretending the Spirit lay aside the whole Bible they say the Scripture is a Dead Letter and they live above it What Impudency is this till we are above Sin we shall not be above Scripture let not Men talk of a Revelation from the Spirit suspect it to be an Imposture the Spirit of God acts regularly it works in and by the Word and he that pretends a new Light which is either above the Word or contrary to it abuseth both himself and the Spirit his Light is borrowed from him who transforms himself into an Angel of Light 4. It condemns the Slighters of Scripture such are they who can go whole Weeks and Months and never read the Word they lay it aside as rusty Armour they prefer a Play or Romance before Scripture the Magnalia legis are to them Minutula O how many can be looking their Faces in a Glass all the Morning but their Eyes begin to be sore when they look upon a Bible Heathens die in the want of Scripture and these in the contempt of it They surely must needs go wrong who slite their Guide such as lay the reins upon the neck of their Lusts and never use the curbing Bit of Scripture to check them are carried to Hell and never stop 5. It condemns the Abusers of Scripture 1. Who do mud and poison this pure Chrystal Fountain with their corrupt Glosses who rest Scripture 2 Pet. 3.16 The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 they set it upon the Rack they give wrong Interpretations of it not comparing Scripture with Scripture as the Antinomians pervert that Scripture Numb 23.21 He hath not beheld iniquity in Jacob. Hence they infer God's People may take liberty in sin because God sees no sin in them 'T is true God sees not sin in his People with an Eye of Revenge but he sees it with an Eye of Observation He sees not sin in them so as to damn them but he sees it so as to be angry and severely to punish them Did not David find it so when he cried out of his broken bones In like manner the Arminians wrest Scripture Iohn 5.40 Ye will not come to me here they bring in Free-will This Text shows 1. how willing God is that we should have Life 2. that sinners may do more than they do they may improve the Talents God hath given them but it doth not prove the Power of Free-will for it is contrary to that Scripture Iohn 6.44 No man can come to me except the Father which hath sent me draw him These therefore wring the Text so hard as they make the Blood come they do not compare Scripture with Scripture 2. Who do jest with Scripture When they are sad they take the Scripture as their Lute or Minstrel to play with and so drive away the sad Spirit as that Drunkard I have read of who having drunk off his Cups called to some of his Fellows Give us of your Oil for our Lamps are gone out In the fear of God take heed of this Eusebius tells us of one who took a piece of Scripture to make a Jest of who was presently struck with Frenzy and run mad And 't is
glory he hath fore-ordained whatsoever shall come to pass I should come now to speak concerning the Decrees of God but I have already spoken something to this under the Attribute of God's Immutability God is unchangeable in his Essence and he is unchangeable in his Decrees his Counsel shall stand he hath decreed the Issue of all things and carries them on to their Period by his Providence and therefore I shall proceed to the Execution of his Decrees Quest. VIII The next Question is What is the Work of Creation Resp. It is God's making all things of nothing by the word of his power c. Gen. 1.1 In the beginning God created the Heaven and the Earth The Creation is glorious to behold it is a pleasant and fruitful study Some think that Isaac when he went abroad into the Fields to meditate it was in the Book of the Creatures The Creation is the Heathen Man's Bible the Ploughman's Primmer the Travellers Perspective Glass through which he receives the Species and Representation of those infinite Excellencies which are in God The Creation is a large Volume in which God's Works are bound up and this Volume hath three great Leaves in it Heaven Earth Sea The Author of the Creation is God so it is in the Text 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 God created The World was created in time and could not be from Eternity as Aristotle thought The World must have a Maker it could not make it self If one should go into a far Country and see stately Edifices there he would never imagine that these could build themselves but that there had been some Artificer there to raise such goodly Structures so this great Fabrick of the World could not create it self it must have some Builder and Maker and that is God In the beginning God created To imagine that the Work of the Creation was not framed by the Lord Jehovah is as if we should conceive a curious Lanskip to be drawn without the Hand of a Limner Acts 17.24 God that made the World and all things therein In the work of the Creation there are two things to be considered The making of it The adorning of it I. The making of the World Here consider 1. God made the World without any praeexistent Matter This is the difference between Generation and Creation In Generation there is materia habilis disposita some Matter to work upon But in Creation there is no praeexistent Matter God brought all this glorious Fabrick of the World out of the Womb of Nothing We see our Beginning it was of Nothing Some brag of their Birth and Ancestry you see how little cause they have to boast they came of Nothing 2. God made the World with a Word When Solomon was to build a Temple he needed many Workmen and they all had Tools to work with but God wrought without Tools Psal. 33.6 By the word of the Lord were the Heavens made The Disciples wondered that Christ could with a word calm the Sea Matth. 8.26 27. But it was more with a word to make the Sea 3. God made all things at first very good Gen. 1.31 no defect or deformity The Creation came out of God's hands a curious Piece it was a fair Copy without any Blot written with God's own fingers Psal. 8.3 So perfect was God's Work II. The adorning of the World First God made this great Lump and Mass Rudis indigestaque moles and then beautified it and put it into a dress He divided the Sea and the Earth he deck'd the Earth with Flowers the Trees with Fruit but what is Beauty when it is mask'd over Therefore that we might behold this glory God made the Light The Heavens were bespangled with Sun Moon and Stars that so the Worlds Beauty might be beheld and admired God in the Creation began with things less noble and excellent Vegetables and Sensitives and then the Rational Creatures Angels and Men. Man was the most exquisite Piece in the Creation he is a Microcosme or little World Man was made with deliberation and counsel Gen. 1.26 Let us make Man It is the manner of Artificers to be more then ordinary accurate when they are about their Master-pieces Man was to be a Master-piece of this visible World therefore God did consult about the making of so rare a Piece A Solemn Councel of the Sacred Persons in the Trinity was call'd Let us make Man and let us make him in our own Image On the King's Coin his Image or Effigies is stamp'd so God stamp'd his Image on Man and made him partake of many Divine qualities I shall speak 1. of the Parts of Man's Body 1. The Head the most excellent Architectonical Part 't is the Fountain of Spirits and the Seat of Reason In Nature the Head is the best Piece but in Grace the Heart excels 2. The Eye It is the Beauty of the Face it shines and sparkles like a lesser Sun in the Body The Eye occasions much sin and therefore well may it have Tears in it 3. The Ear which is the Conduit-pipe through which Knowledge is conveyed Better lose our seeing than our hearing for faith cometh by hearing Rom. 10.17 To have an Ear open to God is the best Jewel on the Ear. 4. The Tongue David calls the Tongue his glory Psal. 16.9 because it is an Instrument to set forth the Glory of God The Soul at first was a Viol in tune to praise God and the Tongue did make the Musick God hath given us two Ears but one Tongue to shew that we should be swift to hear but slow to speak God hath set a double fence before the Tongue the Teeth and the Lips to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our Tongue 5. The Heart This is a noble part and Seat of Life 2. The Soul of Man This is the Man of the Man Man in regard of his Soul partakes with the Angels nay as Plato saith the Understanding Will and Conscience are a Glass that resemble the Trinity The Soul is the Diamond in the Ring 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Soul is a Vessel of Honour God himself is serv'd in this Vessel It is a Sparkle of Coelestial Brightness saith Damascene If David did so admire the rare Contexture and Workmanship of his Body Psal. 139.13 I am wonderfully made I was curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the Earth If the Cabinet be so curiously wrought what is the Jewel How richly is the Soul embroidered Thus you see how glorious a Work the Creation is and Man especially who is the Epitome of the World Quest. But why did God make the World Resp. 1. Negatively Not for himself he did not need it being infinite He was happy before the World was in reflecting upon his own sublime Excellencies and Perfections 2. God did not make the World to be a place of Mansion for us we are not to abide here for ever Heaven is the Mansion-House Iohn 14.2 the World
of Love 2. Be like Christ in Grace He was like us in having our Flesh let us be like him in having his Grace In three Graces we should labour to be like Christ. 1. In Humility Phil. 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he humbled himself he left the bright Robes of his Glory to be clothed with the Rags of our Humanity A wonder of Humility Let us be like Christ in this Grace Humility saith St. Bernard is contemptus propriae excellentiae a contempt of Self-excellency a kind of Self-annihilation This is the glory of a Christian. We are never so comely in God's Eyes as when we are black in our own In this let us be like Christ. True Religion is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Greg. to imitate Christ. And indeed what cause have we to be humble if we look within us about us below us above us 1. If we look intra nos within us Here we see our sins represented to us in the Glass of Conscience Lust Envy Passion Our sins are like Vermin crawling in our Souls Iob 13.23 How many are my iniquities Our sins are as the Sands of the Sea for number as the Rocks of the Sea for weight Austin crys out Vae mihi faecibus peccatorum polluitur Templum Domini my Heart which is God's Temple is polluted with sin 2. If we look juxta nos about us here 's that may humble us We may see other Christians out-shining us in Gifts and Grace as the Sun out-shines the lesser Planets Others are laden with Fruit perhaps we have but here and there an Olive-berry growing to shew that we are of the right kind Isa. 17.6 3. If we look infra nos below us here is that may humble us We see the Mother Earth out of which we came The Earth is the most ignoble Element Iob 30.8 Thou art viler than the Earth Thou that dost set up thy Scutcheon and Blaze thy Coat of Arms behold thy Pedigree thou art but pulvis animatus walking Ashes and wilt thou be proud What is Adam He is the Son of Dust and what is Dust The Son of Nothing 4. If we look supra nos above us here is that may humble If we look up to Heaven there we see God resisting the proud Superbos sequitur ultor à Tergo Deus The proud Man is the Mark which God shoots at and he never misseth the Mark He threw proud Lucifer out of Heaven he thrust proud Nebuchadnezzar out of his Throne and turned him to Grass Dan. 4.29 O then be like Christ in Humility 2. Did Christ take our flesh was he made like to us let us be made like to him in Zeal Iohn 2.16 The Zeal of thy House hath eaten me up He was zealous when his Father was dishonoured In this let us be like Christ zealous for God's Truth and Glory which are the two Orient Pearls of the Crown of Heaven Zeal is as needful for a Christian as Salt for the Sacrifice or Fire on the Altar Zeal without Prudence is Rashness Prudence without Zeal is Cowardliness Without Zeal our Duties are not acceptable to God Zeal is like Rosin to the Bow-strings without which the Lute makes no Musick 3. Be like Christ in the Contempt of the World When Christ took our flesh he came not in the pride of flesh he did not descend immediately from Kings and Nobles but was of mean Parentage Christ was not ambitious of Titles of Honour Christ did as much decline the worldly Dignity and Greatness as others seek it When they would have made him King he refused it he chose rather to ride upon the Fole of an Ass then to be drawn in a Chariot and to hang upon a wodden Cross then to wear a golden Crown Christ scorn'd the Pomp and Glory of the World he waved Secular Affairs Luke 12.13 Who made me a Iudge His Work was not to arbitrate Matters of Law he came not into the World to be a Magistrate but a Redeemer Christ was like a Star in an higher Orb he minded nothing but Heaven Was Christ made like us let us be made like him in heavenliness and contempt of the World Let not us be ambitious of the Honours and Preferments of the World let us not purchase the World with the loss of a good Conscience What wise Man would damn himself to grow Rich or pull down his Soul to build up an Estate Be like Christ in an holy contempt of the World 3. Be like Christ in Conversation Was Christ Incarnate was he made like us let us be made like him in Holiness of Life No Temptation could fasten upon Christ Iohn 14.30 The Prince of this World cometh and hath nothing in me Temptation to Christ was like a Spark of Fire upon a Marble Pillar which glides off Christ's Life saith Chrysostom was brighter than the Sun-beams Let us be like him in this 1 Pet. 1.16 Be ye holy in all manner of conversation We are not saith Austin to be like Christ in working Miracles but in an holy Life A Christian should be both a Loadstone and a Diamond a Loadstone in drawing others to Christ a Diamond casting a sparkling lustre of Holiness in his Life O let us be so just in our Dealings so true in our Promises so devout in our Worship so unblamable in our Lives that we may be the walking Pictures of Christ. Thus as Christ was made in our likeness let us labour to be made in his likeness Branch 3. If Jesus Christ was so abased for us he took our flesh which was a disparagement to him 't was mingling Dust with Gold if he I say abased himself so for us let us be willing to be abased for him If the World reproach us for Christ's sake and cast Dust on our Name let us bear it with patience The Apostles Acts 5.41 departed from the Council rejoycing that they were counted worthy to endure shame for Christ's Name Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that they were graced to be disgraced for Christ. That is a good saying of St. Austin Quid suis detrahit famae meae addet mercedi meae they who take away from a Saints Name shall add to his Reward and while they make his Credit weigh lighter they make his Crown weigh heavier O! was Christ content to be humbled and abased for us to take our flesh and to take it when it was in disgrace let us not think much to be abased for Christ. Say as David 2 Sam. 6.22 If this be to be vile I will yet be more vile If to serve my Lord Christ if to keep my Conscience pure if this be to be vile I will yet be more vile Use 3. of Comfort Jesus Christ having taken our flesh hath enobled our Nature Naturam nostram nobilitavit our Nature now is invested with greater Royalties and Priviledges then in time of Innocency Before in Innocency we were made in the Image of God but now Christ having assumed our Nature we are made
the Law which he hath transgressed the other from the Gospel which he hath despised But Christ hath redeemed a Believer from this Malediction he hath set him out of the Power of Hell and Damnation Quest. To what hath Christ redeemed us Resp. He hath redeemed us to a glorious Inheritance 1 Pet. 1.4 To an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that fadeth not away reserved in heaven for you 1. To an Inheritance Christ hath not only redeemed us out of Prison but he hath redeemed us to a State of Happiness to an Inheritance Heaven is not a Lease which soon expires but an Inheritance and a glorious Inheritance Col. 1.12 An Inheritance 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Light Lumen actuat colores Light adorns and gilds the World What were the World without Light but a Prison The Heavenly Inheritance is irradiated with Light Christ as a continual Sun enlightens it with his Beams Rev. 21.23 2. To an Inheritance incorruptible It doth not moulder away or suffer Dissolution Earthly Comforts are shadowed out by the Tabernacle which was transient but Heaven is set out by the Temple which was fixed and permanent built with Stone overlaid with Gold This is the Glory of the Coelestial Inheritance it is incorruptible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. Chrysost. Eternity is written upon the Frontis-piece of it 3. Undefiled The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for Undefiled alludes to a precious Stone called Amiantus which cannot be blemished Such a Place is Heaven undefiled nothing can stain it there 's no Sin there to Eclipse its Purity For the Holiness and Undefiledness of it it is compar'd to pure Gold and to the Saphir and Emerald Rev. 21. The Saphir hath a Vertue saith Pliny to preserve Chastness the Emerald to expel Poyson These are the lively Emblems of Heaven to show the Sanctity of it no Feaver of Lust no Venom of Malice there are none but pure Virgin spirits inhabit 4. It fadeth not away The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the name of a Flower Amarantus which keeps a long time fresh and green as Clem. Alexandrinus writes Such is the Heavenly Inheritance it doth not lose its Orient Colour but keeps its Freshness and Greenness to Eternity the Beauty of it fadeth not away To this glorious Inheritâ—nce hath Christ redeemed the Saints an Inheritance which cannot be fully described or set forth by all the Lights of Heaven though every Star were a Sun and that which is the Diamond in the Ring the Glory of this Inheritance is the Eternal Sight and Fruition of the blessed God the sight of God will be most alluring heart-ravishing Object Kings Presence makes the Court Ioh. 3.2 We shall see him as he is It is comfortable to see God showing himself through the Lettuce of an Ordinance to see him in the Word and Sacrament The Martyrs thought it comfortable to see him in a Prison O then what will it be to see him in Glory shining ten thousand times brighter then the Sun and not only see him but enjoy him for ever Proemium quod fide non attingitur Aug. Faith itself is not able fully to comprehend this Reward And all this Blessedness hath Christ purchased through the Redemption of his Bloud Use 1. Branch 1. See into what a wretched deplorable Condition we had brought ourselves by sin we had sinned ourselves into Slavery Slavery so that we needed Christ to purchase our Redemption Nihil durius servitute Cicero Slavery is the worst Condition Such as are now Prisoners in Algiers think so But by Sin we were in a worse Slavery Slaves to Satan a Merciless Tyrant who sports in the Damnation of Souls In this Condition were we when Christ came to redeem us Branch 2. See in this as in a transparent Glass the Love of Christ to the Elect he came to redeem them these he dyed Intentionally for Were it not great Love for a King's Son to pay a great Sum of Money to redeem a Captive but that he should be content to be a Prisoner in his stead and dye for his Ransom this were Matter of Wonder Jesus Christ hath done all this he hath written his Love in Characters of Bloud It had been much for Christ to speak a good word to his Father for us but he knew that was not enough to redeem us Though a Word speaking made a World yet it would not redeem a Sinner Heb. 9.22 Without shedding of bloud is no remission 2. Use of Tryal If Christ came to purchase our Redemption then let us try whether we are the Persons whom Christ hath redeemed from the Guilt and Curse due to Sin This is a needful Tryal for let me tell you there is but a certain Number whom Christ hath redeemed O say Sinners Christ is a Redeemer and we shall be saved by him Beloved Christ came not to redeem all then we overthrow the Decrees of God Redemption is not as large as Creation I grant there is a Sufficiency of Merit in Christ's Bloud to save all but there 's difference between Sufficiency and Efficiency Christ's Bloud is a sufficient Price for all but it is effectual only to them that believe A Plaister may have a soveraign Vertue in it to heal any Wound but it doth not heal unless applyed to the Wound And if it be so that all have not the Benefit of Christ's Redemption only some then it is a necessary Question to ask our Souls Whether we are in the Number of them that are redeemed by Christ or no Quest. How shall we know that Resp. Such as are redeemed are reconciled to God the Enmity is taken away their Judgments approve their Wills incline ad bonum Col. 1.21 Are they redeemed that are unreconciled to God who hate God and his People as the Vine and Laurel have an Antipathy who do all they can to disparage Holiness are these redeemed who are unreconciled Christ hath purchased a Reprieval for these but a Sinner may have a Reprieve and yet go to Hell Ioh. 5.6 2. Such as are redeemed by Christ are redeemed from the World Gal. 1.4 Who gave himself for our sins that he might deliver or redeem us from this present evil world Such as are redeemed by Christ are risen with Christ Col. 3.1 As the Birds though they light upon the Ground to pick up a little Seed yet immediately they take their Wings and flye up to Heaven again so the Redeemed of the Lord though they use the World and take the lawful Comforts of it yet their Hearts are presently off these things and they ascend to Heaven live here trade above Such as Christ hath dyed for are dead to the World Gal. 6.14 I am crucified to the world to the Honours Profits and Preferments of it What shall we think of them who say they are the Redeemed of the Lord yet are Lovers of the World like the Tribes who desired to have their Portion on this side Canaan Phil. 3.19
cross to Flesh and Bloud Faith obeys Heb. 11.8 By faith Abraham obeyed Faith is not an Idle Grace as it hath an Eye to see Christ so it hath an Hand to work for him Faith doth not only believe God's Promise but obey his Command It is not your having Knowledge will evidence you to be Believers the Devil hath Knowledge but wants Obedience and that makes him a Devil And the true Obedience of Faith is a chearful Obedience God's Commands do not seem grievous Have you the Obedience and obey chearfully What say you to this do you look on God's Command as your Burden or Priviledge as an Iron Fetter about your Leg or a gold Chain about your Neck 4. Faith is an assimulating Grace it changeth the Soul into the Image of the Object it makes it like Christ. Never did any look on Christ with a believing Eye but he was made like Christ. A deformed Person may look on a beautiful Object but not be made beautiful but Faith looking on Christ transforms a Man and turns him into his Similitude Faith looking on a bleeding Christ causeth a soft bleeding heart Looking on an holy Christ causeth sanctity of Heart looking on an humble Christ makes the Soul humble As the Camelion is changed into the Colour of that which it looks upon so Faith looking on Christ changeth a Christian into the similitude of Christ. 2. By the growth of it if it be a true Faith it grows living things grow Rom. 1.17 From faith to faith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Quest. How may we judge of the growth of Faith Answ. Growth of Faith is judged 1. By strength We can do that now which we could not do before When one is Man-grown he can do that he could not do when he was a Child he can carry a heavier burden so thou canst bear crosses with more patience 2. Growth of Faith is seen by doing Duties in a more spiritual manner viz. with fervency we put coals to the Incence from a principle of love to God When an Apple hath done growing in bigness it grows in sweetness thou dost Duties in love and now are sweeter and come off with a better relish Object But I fear I have no Faith Resp. We must distinguish between weakness of Faith and nullity a weak Faith is true The bruised Reed is but weak yet it is such as Christ will not bruise Though thy Faith be but weak yet be not discouraged 1. A weak Faith may receive a strong Christ. A weak hand can tye the Knot in Marriage as well as a strong a weak Eye might have seen the brasen Serpent The Woman in the Gospel that but touched Christ received Vertue from him The Touch of Faith 2. The Promise is not made to strong Faith but to true The Promise doth not say Whosoever hath a Giant-faith that can remove Mountains that can stop the mouth of Lions shall be saved but whosoever believes be his Faith never so small Though Christ sometimes chides a weak Faith yet that it may not be discouraged he makes a Promise to it Matth. 5.3 Beati qui esuriunt 3. A weak Faith may be fruitful Weakest things multiply most the Vine is a weak Plant but it is fruitful Weak Christians may have strong Affections How strong is the first love which is after the first planting of Faith 4. Weak Faith may be growing The Seed springs up by degrees first the Blade then the Ear then the full Corn in the Ear. Therefore be not discouraged God who would have us receive them that are weak in Faith Rom. 14.1 will not himself refuse them A weak Believer is a Member of Christ and though Christ will cut off rotten Members from his Body yet not weak Members Effectual Calling ROM 8.30 Them he also called Quest. XX. WHat is effectual Calling Answ. It is a gracious work of the Spirit whereby he causeth us to embrace Christ freely offered to us in the Gospel In this Verse is a golden Chain of Salvation made up of four Links this is one Vocation Them he also called Calling is nova Creatio a new Creation the first Resurrection There is a twofold Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call 2. An intrinsick or inward effectual Call 1. An extrinsick or outward Call which is God's offer of Grace to sinners inviting them to come in and accept of Christ and Salvation Matth. 20.16 Many are called but few chosen This outward Call shews Men what they ought to do in order to Salvation and renders them inexcusable in case of Disobedience 2. There is an intrinsick or effectual Call when God with the offer of Grace works Grace by this Call the Heart is renewed and the Will effectually drawn to embrace Christ. The outward Call brings Men to a profession of Christ the inward to a possession of Christ. Quest. What is the means of this effectual Call Resp. Every Creature hath a Voice to call to us The Heavens call to us to behold God's glory Psal. 19.1 Conscience calls to us God's Judgments call to us Repent Mic. 6.9 Hear ye the Rod. But every Voice doth not convert There are two means of our effectual Call 1. The preaching of the Word which is the sounding God's silver Trumpet in Mens Fears God doth not speak by an Oracle he calls by his Ministers Samuel thought it had been only the Voice of Eli that called to him but it was God's voice 1 Sam. 3.6 So perhaps you think it is only the Minister speaks to you in the Word but it is God himself speaks Therefore Christ is said Now to speak to us from Heaven Hebr. 12.25 How doth he speak but by his Ministers as a King speaks by his Ambassadors Know that in every Sermon preached God calls to you and to refuse the Message we bring is to refuse God himself 2. The other means of our effectual Call is the Holy Spirit The Ministry of the Word is the Pipe or Organ the Spirit of God blowing in it doth effectually change Men's hearts Acts 10.44 While Peter spake the Holy Ghost fell on all them that heard the Word of God Ministers knock at the door of Men's hearts the Spirit comes with a Key and opens the door Acts 16.14 A certain woman named Lydia whose heart the Lord opened Quest. From what doth God call Men Resp. 1. From sin He calls them from their Ignorance and Unbelief 1 Pet. 1.14 By Nature the Understanding is inveloped with Darkness God calls Men from darkness to light Eph. 5.8 as if one should be called out of a Dungeon to behold the Light of the Sun 2. From Danger As the Angel called Lot out of Sodom when it was ready to rain fire so God calls his People from the Fire and Brimstone of Hell and from all those Curses they were exposed to 3. He calls them out of the World as Christ called Matthew from the Receipt of Custom Iohn 17.16 Ye are not of the world Such as are
Divinely called are not Natives here but Pilgrims they do not conform to the world or follow its sinful fashions They are not of the world though they live here yet they trade in the heavenly Country The World is a place where Satan's Throne is Rev. 2.13 a Stage on which sin every day acts its part now such as are called are in but not of the World Quest. To what God calls Men Resp. 1. He calls them to Holiness 1 Thess. 4.7 God hath not called us unto uncleanness but unto holiness Holiness is the livery or silver star the Godly wear Isa. 63.18 Knam kodsheca The people of thy holiness The called of God are anointed with the consecrating Oil of the Spirit 1 Iohn 2.20 Ye have an Unction from the holy One 2. God calls them to Glory as if a Man were called out of a Prison to sit upon a Throne 1 Thess. 2.12 Who hath called you to his Kingdom and Glory Whom God calls he crowns It is a weight of Glory 2 Cor. 4.17 The Hebrew word for Glory Kauod signifies pondus a weight The weight of Glory adds to the worth The weightier Gold is the more it is worth And this Glory is not transient but permanent an eternal weight 't is better felt then expressed Quest. What is the cause of the effectual Call Resp. God's electing Love Rom. 8.30 Whom he predestinated them he also called Election is the Fountain-cause of our Vocation It is not because some are more worthy to partake of the heavenly Calling then others as the Arminians we were all in our blood Ezek. 16.6 and what worthiness in us What worthiness was there in Mary Magdalen out of whom seven Devils were cast What worthiness in the Corinthians when God began to call them by his Gospel they were Fornicators Effeminate Idolaters 1 Cor. 6.11 Such were some of you but ye are washed c. Before effectual Calling we are not only without strength Rom. 5.6 but Enemies Col. 1.21 So that the Foundation of Vocation is Election Quest. What are the Epithites or Qualifications of this Call Resp. 1. It is a powerful Call Verba Dei sunt opera Luther God puts forth infinite power in calling home a sinner to himself He doth not only put forth his Voice but his Arm. The Apostle speaks of the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the exceeding greatness of his power he exerciseth towards them that believe Ephes. 1.19 God rides forth conquering in the Chariot of his Gospel he conquers the Pride of the Heart and makes the Wiil which stood out as a Fort-Royal to yield and stoop to his Grace he makes the stony heart bleed It is a mighty powerful Call Why then do the Arminians seem to talk of a Moral Perswasion That God in the Conversion of a Sinner doth only morally perswade and no more He sets his Promises before them to allure them to Good and his Threatnings to deter them from Evil and here is all he doth But sure Moral Perswasions alone are insufficient to the effectual Call How can the bare Proposal of Promises and Threatnings convert a Soul This amounts not to a new Creation or that Power which raised Christ from the dead God doth not only perswade but inable Ezek. 36.27 If God in Conversion should only morally perswade that is set Good and Evil before Men then God doth not put forth so much power in saving Men as the Devil doth in destroying them Satan doth not only propound tempting Objects to Men but doth concur with his Temptations therefore he is said to work in the children of disobedience Ephes. 2.2 The Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to work signifies imperii vim Cameron the power Satan hath in carrying Men to sin And shall not God's Power in converting be greater then Satan's Power in seducing The effectual Call is mighty and powerful God puts forth a Divine Energy nay a kind of Omnipotency It is such a powerful Call that the will of Man hath no power to resist 2. It is an high Calling Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark for the price of the high calling of God It is an high Calling 1. Because we are called to high Exercises of Religion To be crucified to the World to live by Faith to do Angels Work to love God to be living Organs of his Praise to hold communion with the Father and the Son 1 Iohn 1.3 2. It is an high Calling because we are called to high Priviledges to Justification and Adoption to be Kings and Priests unto God We are called to the fellowship of Angels to be co-heirs with Christ Rom. 8.17 They who are effectually called are Candidates of Heaven they are Princes in all Lands Psal. 45.16 though Princes in disguise 3. It is an immutable Call Rom. 11.9 The gifts and calling of God are without repentance that is those gifts which flow from Election as Vocation and Justification these are without Repentance God repented he called Saul to be King but he never repents that he calls a Sinner to be a Saint Use 1. See the necessity of the effectual Call a Man cannot go to Heaven without it First we must be called before glorified Rom. 8.30 A Man uncalled can lay claim to nothing in the Bible but Threatnings a Man in the state of Nature is not fit for Heaven no more then a Man in his filth and rags is fit to come into a Kings presence a Man in his pure Naturals is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a God-hater Rom. 1.30 and is he fit for Heaven will God lay his Enemy in his bosom Use 2. of Trial. Whether we are effectually called We may know it by the Antecedent and Consequent of it 1. By the Antecedent Before this effectual Call an humbling work passeth upon the Soul A Man is convinced of sin he sees he is a sinner and nothing but a sinner the fallow-ground of his heart is broken up Ier. 4.3 As the Husband-man breaks the Clods then casts in the Seed so God by the convincing work of the Law breaks a sinners heart and makes it fit to receive the Seeds of Grace Such as were never convinced were never called Iohn 16.8 He shall convince the world of sin Conviction is the first step to Conversion 2. By the Consequents Two 1. He who is savingly called Answers to God's Call When God called Samuel he answered Speak Lord thy servent heareth 1 Sam. 3.10 When God calls thee to any Act of Religion thou dost run at God's Call Acts 26.19 I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision If God calls to Duties contrary to flesh and blood we obey his voice in every thing True Obedience is like the Needle which points that way which the Loadstone draws Such as are deaf to God's Call a sign they are not called by Grace 2. He who is effectually called doth stop his Ear to all other Calls which would call him off from God as God hath his Call so there are other contrary
are kept by the Power of God unto Salvation every Person in the Trinity hath an hand in making a Believer persevere God the Father establisheth 2 Cor. 1.21 God the Son confirms 1 Cor. 1.8 God the Holy Ghost Seals Eph. 1.13 so that it is the power of God keeps us Alas we are not kept by our own power The Pelagians held That Man by his own power might overcome Temptation and persevere But St. Austin confutes them Man saith he prays unto God for Perseverance which would be absurd if he had power of himself to persevere And saith St. Austin If all the power be inherent in a Mans self then why should not one persevere as well as another why not Judas as well as Peter So that it is not by any other than the power of God that we are kept As the Lord preserved Israel from perishing in the Wilderness till he brought them to Canaan the same care will he take if not in a miraculous yet a spiritual invisible manner in preserving his People in a state of Grace till he brings them to the Celestial Canaan As the Heathens feigned of Atlas That he did bear up the Heavens from falling The power of God is that Atlas which bears up the Saints from falling It is disputed whether Grace of it self may not perish as Adam's yet sure I am Grace kept by the power of God cannot perish 3. The third Argument is taken ab Electione from Gods electing Love such as God hath from all Eternity elected to Glory cannot fall away finally but every true Believer is elected to Glory ergo he cannot fall away Wat can frustrate Election or make Gods Decree void This Argument stands like Mount Sion which cannot be moved Insomuch that some of the Papists hold that such who have absolute Election cannot fall away 2 Tim. 2.19 The Foundation of God stands sure having this Seal The Lord knows them that are his The Foundation of God is nothing else but Gods Decree in Election and this stands sure God will not alter it others cannot 4. The fourth Argument is taken Ab Unione cum Christo from Believers Union with Christ. They are knit to Christ as the Members to the Head by the Nerve and Ligament of Faith so that they cannot be broken off Eph. 5.23 What was once said of Christ's Natural Body is true of his Mystical a Bone of it shall not be broken As it is not possible to sever the Leaven and the Dough when they are once mingled and kneaded together so it is impossible when Christ and Believers are once united ever to be separated Christ and his Members make one Christ. Now is it possible that any part of Christ should perish How can Christ lose any Member of his Body Mystical and be perfect In short Si unus excidat quare non alter If one Believer may be broken off from Christ then by the same Rule why not another Why not all And so Christ should be an Head without a Body 5. The fifth Argument is taken ab Emptione from the Nature of a Purchase A Man will not lay down his Mony for a Purchase which may be lost and the Fee-simple alienated Christ died that he might purchase us as a People to himself for ever Heb. 9.12 Having obtained eternal Redemption for us Would Christ think we have shed his Blood that we might believe in him for a while and then fall away Do we think Christ will lose his Purchase 6. The sixth Argument is A Victoria supra mundum from a Believers Victory over the World The Argument stands thus He who overcomes the World doth persevere in Grace but a Believer doth overcome the World ergo he perseveres in Grace 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the Victory over the World even your Faith A Man may lose a single Battle in the Field yet at last win the Victory A Child of God may be foild in a single Battle against Temptation as Peter was but at last he is Victorious Now if a Saint be crowned Victor if the World be conquered by him he must needs persevere I come next to answer some Objections of the Arminians 1. The first Objection of the Arminians is If a Believer shall persevere in Grace then to what purpose are all those Admonitions in Scripture Let him take heed lest he fall 1 Cor. 10 12. and Heb. 4.1 Let us fear lest any of you seem to come short These Admonitions seem to be Superfluous and Vain if a Saint shall certainly persevere Answ. No these Counsels and Admonitions are necessary to Caution Believers against Carelesness they are as Goads and Spurs to quicken them to a greater Diligence in working out Salvation These Admonitions do not imply the Saints can fall away but they are Preservatives to keep them from falling away Christ told some of his Disciples they should abide in him yet he exhorts them to abide in him Iohn 15. His exhorting them was not in the least to question their abiding in him but to awaken their Diligence and make them pray the harder that they might abide in him 2. The second Objection is Heb. 6.4 it is impossible for those who were once enlightned and have tasted of the Heavenly Gift and were made Partakers of the Holy Ghost and have felt the Powers of the World to come if they shall fall away to renew them again to Repentance Answ. This place of Scripture hath no Force in it for the Apostle here speaks of Hypocrites he shews how far they may go yet fall way 1. They who were once enlightned Men may have great Illuminations yet fall away Was not Iudas enlightned 2. They have been made partakers of the Holy Ghost The common Gifts of the Spirit not the special Grace 3. They have tasted the good word of God Tasting here is opposed to Eating the Hypocrite may have a kind of Taste of the sweetness of Religion but this taste doth not nourish There is a great deal of difference between one that takes a Gargle and a Cordial The Gargle only washeth his Mouth he tasts it and puts it out again but a Cordial is drank down which nourisheth and cheers the Spirits The Hypocrite who hath only some smack or taste of Religion as one tasts a Gargle may fall away 4. And have felt the powers of the World to come That is they may have such Apprehensions of the Glory of Heaven as to be affected with it and seem to have some joy in the thoughts of it yet fall away as in the Parable of the stony ground Matt. 13.20 All this is spoken of the Hypocrite but it doth not therefore prove that the true Believer who is effectually wrought upon can fall away Though Comets fall it doth not therefore follow that true Stars fall That this Scripture speaks not of sound Believers is clear from Verse 9. But we are perswaded better things of you and things that accompany Salvation Of PERSEVERANCE 1
him by our standing up for his Interest We will appear in his Cause and vindicate his Truth wherein his Glory is so much concerned Athanasius was 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Bulwark of Truth he stood up for it when most of the World were Arrians In former times the Nobles of Polonia when the Gospel was read did lay their Hands upon their Swords signifying that they were ready to defend the Faith and hazard their Lives for the Gospel No better sign of our having an Interest in God than by our standing up for his Interest 5. We may know God is ours and we have an Interest in him by his having an Interest in us Cant. 2.16 My beloved is mine and I am his When God saith to the Soul Thou art mine the Soul answers Lord I am thine All I have is at thy Service My Head shall be thine to study for thee My Tongue shall be thine to praise thee If God be our God by way of Donation we are his by way of Dedication We live to him and are more his than we are our own And thus we may come to know that God is our God Use 1. Above all things let us get this great Charter confirmed that God is our God Deity is not comfortable without Propriety Tolle meum tolle Deum Aug. O let us labour to get sound Evidences that God is our God We cannot call Health Liberty Estate ours O let us be able to call God ours and say as the Church Psal. 67.6 God even our own God shall bless us Let every Soul here labour to pronounce this Shibboleth My God And that we may endeavour after this to have God for our God Consider 1. The Misery of such as have not God for their God in how sad a Condition are they when an hour of distress comes This was Saul's Case 1 Sam. 28.15 I am sore distressed for the Philistins make war against me and the Lord is departed from me A wicked Man in time of Trouble is like a Vessel toss'd on the Sea without an Anchor it falls on Rocks or Sands A Sinner not having God to be his God though he makes a shift while Health and Estate last yet when these Crutches are broken he leaned upon his Heart sinks It is with a wicked Man as it was with the Old World when the Flood came the Waters at first came to the Vallies but then the People would get to the Hills and Mountains But then the Waters came to the Mountains Then there might be some Trees on the high Hills and they would climb up to them I but then the Waters did rise up to the tops of the Trees Now all hopes of being saved were gone their Hearts failed them So it is with a Man that hath not God to be his God If one Comfort be taken away he hath another If he lose a Child he hath an Estate I but then the Waters rise higher Death comes and takes away all now he hath nothing to help himself with no God to go to he must needs dye despairing 2. How great a Privilege it is to have God for our God Psal. 144.15 Happy are the People whose God is the Lord. Beatitudo hominis est Deus Aug. That you may see the Privilege of this Charter 1. If God be our God then though we may feel the stroke of Evil yet not the sting He must needs be happy who is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in such a Condition that nothing can hurt him If he lose his Name it is written in the Book of Life If he lose his Liberty his Conscience is free If he lose his Estate he is possessed of the Pearl of Price If he meets with Storms he knows where to put in for Harbour God is his God and Heaven is his Haven 2. If God be our God then our Soul is safe The Soul is the Jewel it is a Blossom of Eternity Dan. 7.15 I was grieved in the midst of my Body In the Chaldee it is In the midst of my Sheath The Body is but the Sheath the Soul is the Princely part of Man which sways the Scepter of Reason It is a Celestial Spark as Damascen calls it If God be our God the Soul is safe as in a Garison Death can do no more hurt to a vertuous Heaven-born Soul than David did to Saul when he cut off the lap of his Garment The Soul is safe being hid in the Promises hid in the Wounds of Christ hid in Gods Decree The Soul is the Pearl and Heaven is the Cabinet where God will lock it up safe 3. If God be our God then all that is in God is ours The Lord saith to a Saint in Covenant as the King of Israel to the King of Syria 1 Kings 20.4 I am thine and all that I have So saith God I am thine How happy is he who not only inherits the Gifts of God but inherits God himself All that I have shall be thine my Wisdom shall be thine to teach thee my Power shall be thine to support thee my Mercy shall be thine to save thee God is an infinite Ocean of Blessedness and there is enough in him to fill us If a thousand Vessels be thrown into the Sea there is enough in the Sea to fill them 4. If God be our God he will intirely love us Propriety is the ground of Love God may give Men Kingdoms and not love them but he cannot be our God and not love us He calls his Covenanted Saints Iediduth Naphshi The dearly beloved of his Soul Jer. 12.7 He rejoyceth over them with Joy and rests in his Love Zeph. 3.17 They are his Refined Silver Zech. 13.9 His Jewels Mal. 3.17 His Royal Diadem Isa. 62.3 He gives them the Cream and Flower of his love He not only opens his hand and fills them Psal. 145.16 but opens his Heart and fills them 5. If God be our God he will do more for us than all the World besides can What is that 1. He will give us Peace in Trouble When a Storm without he will make Musick within The World can create Trouble in Peace but God can create Peace in Trouble He will send the Comforter who as a Dove brings an Olive Branch of Peace in his Mouth Iohn 14.16 2. God will give us a Crown of Immortality The World can give a Crown of Gold but that Crown hath Thorns in it and Death in it but God will give a Crown of Glory which fadeth not away 1 Pet. 5.4 The Garland made of the Flowers of Paradise never withers 6. If God be our God he will bear with many Infirmities God may respit Sinners a while but long Forbearance is no Acquittance he will throw them to Hell for their Sins But if God be our God he will not for every failing destroy us He bears with his Spouse as with the weaker Vessel God may Chastise Psal. 89.32 He may use the Rod and the pruning Knife
Praise God for Deliverance constantly Psal. 146.2 While I live will I bless the Lord Some will be thankful while the Memory of a Deliverance is fresh and then they leave off Like the Carthaginians who used at first to send the Tenth of their yearly Revenue to Hercules but by degrees they grew weary and left off sending But we must be constant in our Eucharistical Sacrifice or Thank-offering The Motion of our Praise must be like the Motion of our Pulse which beats as long as Life lasts Psal. 146.1 I will sing praises to my God while I have any Being Of the Commandments Exod. 20.2 Out of the House of Bondage 2. THese words are to be understood Mystically and Spiritually By Israels Deliverance from the House of Bondage is typified their Spiritual Deliverance from Sin Satan and Hell I. From Sin The House of Bondage was a Type of Israels Deliverance from Sin Sin is the true Bondage it inslaves the Soul Nihil durius Servitute Cicero Of all Conditions Servitude is the worst I was held before Conversion saith Austin not with an iron Ghain but with the Obstinacy of my own Will Sin is the inslaver Sin is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Law Rom. 7.23 because it hath such a binding power over a Man And it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to reign Rom. 6.12 because it exerciseth a Tyrannical Power And Men are said to be the Servants of Sin Rom. 6.17 because they are so inslaved by it Thus Sin is the House of Bondage Israel was not so inslaved in the Iron Furnace as the Sinner is by Sin Those are worse Slaves and Vassals who are under the power of Sin than those are who are under the power of Earthly Tyrants 1. Other Slaves have the Tyrants only rule over their Bodies but the Sinner hath his Soul Tyranniz'd over The Soul that Princely thing which sways the Scepter of Reason and was once crown'd with perfect Knowledge and Holiness now this Prince goes on foot it is inslaved and made a Lackey to every base Lust. 2. Other Slaves have some pity shewn them the Tyrant gives them Meat and lets them have hours for their Rest But Sin is a merciless Tyrant it will let Men have no Rest. Iudas had no rest till he had betrayed Christ and after that he had less rest in his Conscience How doth a Man Hackney himself out in the Service of Sin wast his Body break his Sleep distract his Mind A wicked Man is every day doing Sins drudgery-work 3. Other Slaves though they are set about servile work yet about lawful it is lawful to work in the Gally tug at the Oar but all the Laws and Commands of Sin are unlawful Sin saith to one Man Defraud to another be Unchast to another take Revenge to another take a false Oath Thus all Sins commands are unlawful we cannot obey Sins Law but by breaking Gods Law 4. Other Slaves are forced against their will Israel groaned under Slavery Exod. 2.23 But Sinners are content to be under the command of Sin they are willing to be Slaves they love their Chains they will not take their Freedom They Glory in their shame Phil. 3.19 They wear their Sins not as their Fetters but their Ornaments They rejoyce in Iniquity Ier. 11.15 5. Other Slaves are brought to Correction but Sins Slaves are without Repentance brought to Condemnation Other Slaves lye in the Iron Furnace Sins Slaves lye in the Fiery Furnace What freedom of Will hath a Sinner to his own Conversion when he can do nothing but what Sin will have him He is enslaved Thus Sinners are in the House of Bondage but God takes his Elect out of this House of Bondage He beats off the Chains and Fetters of Sin He rescues them from their Slavery He makes them free by bringing them into the glorious Liberty of the Children of God Rom. 8. The Law of Love now commands not the Law of Sin Though the Life of Sin be prolonged yet not the Dominion As those Beats in Daniel had their Lives prolonged for a Season but their Dominion was taken away Dan. 7.12 The Saints are made Spiritual Kings to rule and conquer their Corruptions to bind these Kings in Chains This is matter of the highest Praise and Thanksgiving to be thus taken out of the House of Bondage to be freed from enslaving Lusts and made Kings to reign in Glory for ever II. The bringing Israel out of the House of Bondage was a Type of their Deliverance from Satan Thus Men naturally are in the House of Bondage they are inslaved to Satan Satan is called the Prince of this World Iohn 14.30 and the God of this World 2 Cor. 4.4 because he hath such power to command and inslave them Though Satan shall one day be a close Prisoner in Chains yet now he doth Insult and Tyrannize over the Souls of Men Sinners are under the Rule of Satan he exerciseth over them such a Jurisdiction as Cesar did over the Senate The Devil fills Mens Heads with Error and their Hearts with Malice Acts 5.3 Why hath Satan filled thine Heart A Sinners Heart is the Devils Mansion-House Matt. 12.44 I will return into my House And sure that must needs be an House of Bondage which is the Devils Mansion-House Satan is a perfect Tyrant 1. He rules Mens Minds he blinds them with Ignorance 2 Cor. 4.4 The God of this World hath blinded the minds of them that believe not 2. He rules their Memories they shall remember that which is Evil and forget that which is good Their Memories are like a Siercer or Strainer that lets go all the pure Liquor and retains only the Dregs 3. He rules their Wills Though the Devil cannot force the Will yet he draws it Iohn 8.44 The Lusts of your Father you will do He hath got your Hearts and him you will obey His strong Temptations do more draw Men to Evil than all the Promises of God can draw them to Good This is the State of every Man by Nature he is in the House of Bondage the Devil hath him in his power A Sinner grinds in the Devils Mill he is at the Command of Satan as the Ass is at the command of the Driver No wonder to see Men oppress and persecute these Slaves must do what the God of this World will have them How could those Swine but run when the Devils entred into them Matt. 8.32 When the Devil tempted Ananias to tell a Lye he could not but speak what Satan had put in his Heart Acts 5.3 When the Devil entred into Iudas and bid him betray Christ Iudas would do it though he hanged himself This case is sad and dismal to be thus in the House of Bondage under the power and Tyranny of Satan When David would curse the Enemies of God how did he pray against them that Satan might be at their right hand Psal. 109.6 He knew he could lead them into
any Snare If Satan be at the Sinners right hand let the Sinner take heed he be not set on Gods left hand Is not this a case to be bewailed to see Men taken Captive by Satan at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 He leads Sinners as Slaves before him in Triumph He possesseth them If People should see but their Beasts bewitched and possessed of the Devil they would be much troubled Yet their Souls are possessed by Satan but they are not sensible What can be worse than to be in the House of Bondage to have the Devil hurry Men on in their Lusts to Perdition Sinners are willingly inslav'd to Satan they love their Goaler are content to sit quietly under Satans Jurisdiction they choose this Bramble to rule them though within a while Fire will come out of this Bramble to devour them Iudges 9. Now what an infinite Mercy of God is it when he brings poor Souls out of this House of Bondage when he gives them a Goal delivery from the Prince of Darkness Iesus Christ Redeems Captives He Ransoms Sinners by Price and Rescues them by Force As David took a Lamb out of the Lyons Mouth 1 Sam. 17.34 So Christ rescues Souls out of the Mouth of this Roaring Lyon O what a Mercy is it to be brought out of the House of Bondage to be taken from being made Captives to the Prince of the Air and to be made Subjects of the Prince of Peace And this is done by the preaching of the Word Acts 26.18 To turn them from the power of Satan unto God III. The bringing of Israel out of the House of Bondage was a Type of their being delivered from Hell Hell is Domus Servitutis An House of Bondage an House built on purpose for Sinners to lye in 1. That there is such an House of Bondage where the Damned lye Psal. 9.17 The wicked shall be turned into Hell Matt. 23.33 How can ye escape the damnation of Hell If any one shall ask where this House of Bondage is where is the place of Hell I wish you may never know feelingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chrys. Let us not so much saith Chrysostom labour to know where Hell is as how to escape it Yet to satisfie Curiosity Hell is Locus subterraneus Some place beneath Prov. 5.24 Hell beneath Hesiod saith Hell is as far under the Earth as Heaven is above it Luke 8.31 The Devils besought Christ That he would not command them to go into the deep Hell is in the Deep 2. Q. Why there must be this House of Bondage why an Hell Resp. Because there must be a place for the Execution of Divine Justice Earthly Monarchs have their Prison for Malefactors and shall not God have his Sinners are Criminal Persons they have offended God and it would not consist with Gods Holiness and Justice to have his Laws infring'd and not appoint Penalties for the Transgressors 3. The Dreadfulness of this place Could you but for one hour hear the Groans and Shreaks of the Damned it would confirm you in this Truth that Hell is an House of Bondage Hell is the Emphasis of Misery Besides the Poena damni the Punishment of Loss which is the Exclusion of the Soul from the glorified sight of God which Divines think the worst part of Hell I say besides this there will be Poena Sensus the Punishment of Sense If when Gods Wrath is kindled but a little and a spark of it flies into a Mans Conscience in this Life it is so terrible as in the case of Spira then what will Hell it self be That I may describe this House of Bondage 1. In Hell there will be a Plurality of Torments 1. Bonds and Chains 2 Pet. 2.4 2. The Worm Mark 9.44 This is the Worm of Conscience and the Lake of Fire Rev. 20.15 other Fire is but painted to this 2. This House of Hell is haunted with Devils Matt. 25.41 Anselm hath a saying I had rather endure all Torments than see the Devil with bodily Eyes Such as go to Hell must not only be forced to behold the Devil but must be shut up in the Den with this Lyon They must keep the Devil company The Devil is full of spight against Mankind This red Dragon will spet Fire in Mens Faces 3. The Torment of Hell abides for ever Rev. 14.11 The smoak of their Torment ascendeth up for ever and ever Mark 9.44 Time cannot finish it Tears cannot quench it The Wicked are Salamanders who live always in the Fire of Hell and are not consum'd After Sinners have lain Millions of Years in Hell their Punishment is as far from ending as it was at the beginning If all the Earth and Sea were Sand and every thousand Year a Bird should come and take away one grain of this Sand it would be a long time e'er that vast heap of Sand were emptied Yet if after all that time the Damned might come out of Hell there were some hope but this word EVER breaks the Heart Quest. But how doth this seem to stand with Gods Iustice for a Sin committed in a moment to punish it with eternal Torment Resp. 1. Because there is an Eternity of Sin in Mans Nature 2. Because Sin is Crimen laesae Majestatis it is committed against an infinite Majesty therefore the Sin is Infinite and proportionably the Punishment must be Infinite Now because a finite Creature cannot bear infinite Wrath therefore he must be eternally satisfying what he cannot satisfie at once Now then if Hell be such an House of Bondage what infinite cause have they to bless God who are delivered from it 1 Thess. 1.10 Iesus delivered us from the Wrath to come Jesus Christ suffered the Torments of Hell in his Soul that Believers should not suffer them If we are thankful when we are ransomed out of Prison or delivered from Fire Oh how should we bless God to be preserved from Wrath to come And that which may cause the more Thankfulness is because the most go into this House of Bondage the most go to Hell Therefore to be of the number of those few that are delivered from it is matter of infinite Thankfulness I say most go to this House of Bondage when they dye most go to Hell Matt. 7.13 Broad is the way which leadeth to destruction and many there be that go in thereat The greatest part of the World lies in Wickedness 1 Iohn 5.19 Divide the World saith Brerewood into 31 parts nineteen parts of it are possessed by Jews and Turks seven parts by Heathens so that there are but five parts of Christians and among these Christians so many seduced Papists on one hand and so many formal Protestants on the other that we may conclude the major part of the World goes to Hell 1. The Scripture compares the Wicked to Briars Isa. 10.17 There are but few Lillies in your Fields but in every Hedge Thorns and Briars 2. To the mire in the streets Isa. 10.6 Few Jewels or precious
Mediate much of God and this will be a means to love him Psal. 39.3 While I was musing the fire burned Meditation is the Bellows of the Affections Meditate on Gods love in giving us Christ Iohn 3.16 God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son c. That God should give Christ to us and not to the Angels that fell that the Sun of Righteousness should shine in our Horison that he is revealed to us and not to others what wonderful love is this Prov. 6.28 Who can go upon hot coals and his feet not be burned Who can meditate on Gods love who can tread on these hot Coals and his Heart not burn in love to God! Beg an Heart to love God The Affection of Love is natural but not the Grace of Love Gal. 5.22 This fire of love is kindled from Heaven beg that it may burn upon the Altar of your Heart Sure this request is pleasing to God and he will not deny such a Prayer Lord give me an heart to love thee Of the Commandments Exod. 20.6 And keep my Commandments LOve and Obedience like two Sisters must go hand in hand Indeed this is a good Evidence of our loving God Iohn 14.21 If ye love me keep my Commandments Probatio dilectionis est exhibitio operis The Son that loves his Father will obey him Obedience pleaseth God 1 Sam. 15.22 To obey is better than Sacrifice In Sacrifice only a dead Beast is offered in Obedience a living Soul In Sacrifice only a part of the Fruit is offered in Obedience Fruit and Tree and all A Man offers up himself to God Keep my Commandments It is not said God shews Mercy to Thousands of them that know his Commandments but that keep them The knowing Gods Commandments without keeping them doth not intitle any to Mercy The Commandment is not only a Rule of Knowledge but Duty God gives us his Commandments not only as a Lanskip to look upon but as his Will and Testament which we are to perform A good Christian is like the Sun which doth not only send forth light but goes its Circuit round the World So he hath not only the light of Knowledge but goes his Circuit too and moves in the Sphere of Obedience Quest. In what manner must we keep Gods Commandments Resp. 1. Our keeping the Commandments must be Fiducial Our Obedience to Gods Commands must Profluere à Fide spring from Faith therefore it is called the Obedience of Faith Rom. 16.26 Abel by Faith offered up 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a better Sacrifice than Cain Heb. 11.4 Faith is a vital Principle without it all our Services are Opera Mortua dead Works Heb. 6.1 Faith doth meliorate and sweeten our Obedience and make it come off with a better Relish Quest. But why must Faith be mix'd with Obedience to the Commandment Resp. Because Faith eyes Christ in every Duty and so both the Person and Offering are accepted The High Priest under the Law laid his Hand upon the Head of the Beast slain which did point to the Messiah Exod. 29.10 So Faith in every Duty lays its hand upon the Head of Christ. His Blood doth expiate the guilt and the sweet Odours of his Intercession perfume our works of Obedience Eph. 1.6 He hath made us accepted in the Beloved 2. Our keeping the Commandments must be uniform We must make Conscience of one Commandment as well as another Psal. 119.6 Then shall I not be ashamed when I have respect to all thy Commandments Every Commandment hath a Ius divinum the same stamp of Divine Authority upon it And if I obey one Precept because God commands by the same Reason I must obey all Some obey the Commands of the first Table but are careless in the Duties of the second And so è contra Physicians have a Rule when the Body sweats in one part but is cold in another it is a sign of a Distemper So when Men seem Zealous in some Duties of Religion but are Cold and Frozen in another it is a sign of Hypocrisie We must have respect to all Gods Commandments Quest. But who can keep all Commandments Resp. There is a fulfilling of Gods Commands and a keeping them Though we cannot fulfill all yet we may be said to keep them in an Evangelical Sense We may facere though not perficere We keep the Commandments Evangelically 1. Where we make Conscience of every Command Though we come short in every Duty yet we dare not neglect any Duty 2. Our desire is to keep every Commandment Psal. 119.5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy Statutes What we want in Strength we make up in Will 3. We grieve that we can do no better When we fail we weep We prefer Bills of Complaint against our selves and judge our selves for our Failings Rom. 7.24 4. We do elicere conatum we endeavour to obey every Commandment Phil. 3.14 I press toward the mark We strive as in an Agony and if it lay in our power we would fully comport with every Commandment 5. When we fall short and are unable to come up to the full Latitude of the Law we look to Christs Blood to sprinkle our imperfect Obedience and with the grains of his Merits cast into the Scales to make it pass current This is in an Evangelical Sense to keep all the Commandments and though it be not to Satisfaction yet it is to Acceptation 3. Our keeping Gods Commandments must be willing Isa. 1.19 If ye be willing and obedient God was for a Free will-offering Deut. 16.10 David will run the way of Gods Commandments Psal. 119.32 that is Freely and Chearfully The Lawyers have a Canon Adverbs are better than Adjectives it is not the Bonum but the Bene not the doing much but the doing well A Musician is not commended for playing long but for playing well It is obeying God willingly is accepted Virtus nolentium nullum est The Lord hates that which is forced it is rather a paying a Tax than an Offering Cain served God grudgingly he brought his Sacrifice not his Heart To obey Gods Commandments unwillingly is like the Devils who came out of the Men possess'd at Christs command but with Reluctancy and against their Will Matt. 8.29 Obedientia praeest and à est non timore poenae sed amore Dei Good Duties must not be pressed or beaten out of us as the Waters came out of the Rock when Moses smote it with his Rod but must freely drop from us as Myrrhe from the Tree or Hony from the Comb. If a willing mind be wanting there wants that flower which should perfume our Obedience and make it a sweet smelling Savour to God That we may keep Gods Commandments willingly let these things be well weighed 1. Our Willingness is more esteem'd than our Service Therefore David Counsels Solomon not only to serve God but with a willing Mind 1 Chron. 28.9 The Will makes Sin to be worse and it
Day of Judgment there shall be an open and honourable mention made of them in the Presence of the Angels Sixthly Hard-heartedness to them in Misery reproacheth the Gospel When Men's Hearts are like pieces of Rocks or as the Scales of the Leviathan shut up as with a close Seal Job 41.15 You may as well extract Oyl out of a Flint as the Golden Oyl of Charity out of their Hearts These Vnchristian themselves Unmercifulness is the Sin of the Heathen Rom. 1.31 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 without Mercy It eclipseth the Glory of the Gospel Doth the Gospel teach Uncharitableness Doth it not bid us draw out our Soul to the Hungry Isa. 58.10 Tit. 3.8 These things I will that you affirm that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good Works While you relieve not such as are in Want you walk Antipodes to the Gospel you cause it to be evil spoken of and lay it open to the Las◠and Censure of others Seventhly There is nothing lost by relieving the Necessitous The Shunamite Woman was kind to the Prophet she welcomed him to her House and she received Kindness from him another way He restored her Dead Child to Life 2 Kings 4.35 Such as are helpful to others shall find Mercy to help in time of need Such as pour out the Golden Oyl of Compassion to others God will pour out the Golden Oyl of Salvation to them For a Cup of cold Water they shall have Rivers of Pleasure Nay God will make it up some way or other in this Life Prov. 11.25 The Liberal Soul shall be made fa◠As the Loaves in breaking multiplied or as the Widows Oyl encreased by pouring out 1 Kings 17.16 An Estate may be imparted yet not impaired Eighthly To do good to others in Necessity keeps up the Credit of Religion Works of Mercy adorn the Gospel as the Fruit Adorns the Tree When our Light so shines that others see our Good Works this glorifies God Crowns Religion silenceth the Lips of Gain-sayers Basil saith Nothing rendred the True Religion more famous in the Primitive Times and made more Proselytes to it than the Bounty and Charity of the Christians Ninthly and Lastly The Evil that doth accrue by not preserving the Lives of others and helping them in their Necessities God sends oft a secret Moth into their Estate Prov. 11.24 There is that with-holdeth more than is meet but it tendeth to Poverty Prov. 21.13 Whoso stoppeth his Ears at the cry of the poor he also shall cry himself but shall not be heard Jam. 2.13 He shall have Iudgment without Mercy that showed no Mercy Dives denied Lazarus a Crumb of Bread and Dives was denied a Drop of Water Mat. 25.41 Depart from me ye cursed for I was an hungred and ye gave me no meat Christ saith not Ye took away my Meat But Ye gave me no Meat ye did not feed my Members therefore depart from me By all this be ready to distribute to the Necessities of others This is included in the Commandment Thou shalt not kill Not only Thou shalt not destroy his Life but thou shalt preserve it by giving to his Necessities 2. It is imply'd that we should endeavour to preserve the Souls of others counsel them about their Souls set Life and Death before them help them to Heaven In the Law if one met his Neighbours Ox or Ass going astray he must bring him back Exod. 33.4 Much more if we see our Neighbours Soul going astray we should use all means to bring him back to God by Repentance 2. In reference to our selves The Commandment Thou shalt not kill requires that we should preserve our own Life and Soul 'T is engraven upon every Creature that we should preserve our own Natural Life We must be so far from Self-murder that we must do all we can to preserve our Natural Life We must use all means of Diet Exercise and lawful Recreation which is like Oyl to preserve the Lamp of Life from going out Some have been under Temptation Satan hath suggested they are such Sinners as do not deserve a bit of Bread and so they have been ready to starve themselves This is contrary to this Sixth Commandment Thou shalt do no Murder it is imply'd we are to use all means for the preserving our own Life 1 Tim. 5.23 Drink no longer Water but use a little Wine for thy Stomach's sake Timothy was not by drinking too much Water to over-cool his Stomach and weaken Nature but he must use means for Self-preservation Drink a little Wine c. Secondly This Commandment requires that we should endeavour as to preserve our own Life so especially to preserve our own Souls Omnia si perdas animam servare memento It is engraven upon every Creature as with the Point of a Diamond that it should look to its own Preservation If the Life of the Body must be preserved then much more the Life of the Soul If he who doth not provide for his own House is worse than an Infidel 1 Tim. 5.8 then much more he who doth not provide for his own Soul This is a main thing implied in the Commandment a special Care for the preserving our Souls The Soul is the Iewel 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Macar The Soul is a Diamond set in a Ring of Clay Christ puts the Soul in ballance with the World and it outweighs Matth. 16.26 The Soul is a Glass in which some Rays of Divine Glory shine It hath in it some Faint Idea and Resemblance of a Deity It is a Celestial Spark lighted by the Breath of God The Body was made out of the Dust but the Soul is of a more noble Extract and Original Gen. 2.7 God breathed into Man a living Soul 1. The Soul is Excellent in its Nature It is a Spiritual Being 't is a kind of Angelical thing The Mind sparkles with Knowledge the Will is crown'd with Liberty and all the Affections are as Stars shining in their Orb. The Soul being Spiritual 1. Is of quick Operation How quick is the Motion of a Spark How swift is the Wing of a Cherubim So quick and agil is the Motion of the Soul What is quicker than a Thought How many Miles can the Soul travel in an Instant 2. The Soul being Spiritual moves upward it contemplates God and Glory Psal. 73.25 Whom have I in Heaven but thee The Motion of the Soul is upward only Sin hath put a wrong Byass upon the Soul and made it move too much down-ward 3. The Soul being Spiritual is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath a self-moving Power it can subsist and move when the Body is dead as the Mariner can subsist when the Ship is broken 4. The Soul being Spiritual is Immortal Scaliger Aeternitatis Gemma a Bud of Eternity 2. As the Soul is excellent in its Nature so in its Capacities It is capable of Grace it is fit to be an Associate and Companion of Angels It
of getting the World hath in him the Root of all Sin Covetousness is a Mother-sin I shall make it appear that Covetousness is a Breach of all the Ten Commandments 1. It breaks the First Commandment Thou shalt have no other Gods but one The covetous Man hath more God's than one Mammon is his God He hath a God of Gold therefore he is called an Idolater Col. 3.5 2. Covetousness breaks the Second Commandment Thou shalt not make any graven Image thou shalt not bow down thy self to them A covetous Man bows down tho not to the graven Image in the Church yet to the Graven Image in his Coyn. 3. Covetousness is a Breach of the Third Commandment Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain Absalom's Design was to get his Fathers Crown there was Covetousness but he talks of paying his Vow to God there he took God's Name in vain 4. Covetousness is a Breach of the Fourth Commandment Remember the Sabbath-day to keep it holy A Covetous Man doth not keep the Sabbath Holy He will ride to Fairs on a Sabbath Instead of reading in the Bible he will cast up his Accounts 5. Covetousness is a Breach of the Fifth Commandment Honour thy Father and thy Mother A covetous Person will not honour his Father if he doth not feed him with Money Nay he will get his Father to make over his Estate to him in his Life-time and so the Father shall be at the Sons Command 6. Covetousness is a Breach of the Sixth Commandment Thou shalt not kill Covetous Ahab kill'd Naboth to get his Vineyard 1 Kings 21.13 How many have swum to the Crown in Blood 7. Covetousness is a Breach of the Seventh Commandment Thou shalt not commit Adultery Covetousness causeth Uncleanness You read of the Hire of a Whore Deut. 23.18 An Adulteress for Money sets both Conscience and Chastity to Sale 8. Covetousness is a Breach of the Eighth Commandment Thou shalt not steal Covetousness is the Root of Theft Covetous Achan stole the Wedge of Gold Therefore Thieves and Covetous are put together 1 Cor. 6.10 9. Covetousness is a Breach of the Ninth Commandment Thou shalt not bear false witness What makes the Perjurer take a false Oath but Covetousness He hopes for a Dividend And 10. It is plainly a Breach of the Last Commandment Thou shalt not covet The Mammonist covets his Neighbours House and Goods and endeavours to get them into his own Hands Thus you see how vile a Sin Covetousness is It is a Mother-sin it is a plain Breach of every one of the Ten Commandments 4. Covetousness is a Sin dishonourable to Religion For such as say their Hopes are Above yet their Hearts are below For them who profess to be above the Stars to lick the Dust of the Serpent To be born of God yet buried in the Earth How dishonourable is this to Religion The Lapwing wears a little Coronet on its Head yet feeds on Dung. An Emblem of such as profess to be Crown'd Kings and Priests unto God yet feed immoderately on these Terrene Dunghil Comforts Ier. 45.5 And seekest thou great things for thy self seek them not What thou Baruk who art enobled by thy New Birth and art illustrious by thy Office a Levite dost thou seek earthly things And seek them now When the Ship is sinking art thou trimming thy Cabin O do not so degrade thy self nor blot thy Scutcheon Seekest thou great things Seek them not The higher Grace is the less earthly should Christians be The Higher the Sun is the shorter always is the Shadow 1. Covetousness exposeth us to God's Abhorrency Psal. 10.3 The Covetous whom the Lord abhorreth A King abhors to see his Statue abused God abhors to see a Man made in his Image should have the Heart of a Beast given to him Who would live in such a Sin as makes him abhorr'd of God Whom God abhors he curseth and God's Curse blasts where-ever it comes 2. Covetousness precipitates Men to Ruine It shuts them out of Heaven Eph. 5.5 This ye know that no covetous Man who is an Idolater hath any Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God What should a covetous Man do in Heaven God can no more converse with them than a King can converse with a Swine 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into a Snare and many hurtful Lusts which drown Men in Perdition A covetous Man is like a Bee that gets into a Barrel of Honey and there drowns it self He is like a Ferry-man that takes in so many Passengers to encrease his Fare that he sinks his Boat So a covetous Man takes in more Gold to the encreasing of his Estate that he damns himself in Perdition I have read of some Inhabitants near Athens who lived in a very dry barren Island and they took much pains to draw a River to this Island to water it and make it fruitful but when they had opened the Passages and brought the River to it the Water brake in with such a Force that it drowned the Land and all the People in it An Emblem of a Covetous Man he labours to draw Riches to him and at last they come in in such abundance that they drown him in Hell and Perdition How many to build up an Estate pull down their Souls Oh therefore fly from Covetousness I shall next prescribe some Remedies against Covetousness EXOD. XX. 17 Thou shalt not covet thy Neighbour's House thou shalt not covet thy Neighbours Wife c. I am in the next place to resolve a Question How we may do to cure this Itch of Covetousness Resp. For Answer to this I shall prescribe some Remedies and Antidotes against this Sin 1. Faith 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the Victory over the World even your Faith The Root of Covetousness is the Distrust of God's Providence Faith believes God will provide God who feeds the Birds will feed his Children He who cloaths the Lillies will cloath his Lambs And so Faith overcomes the World Faith is the Cure of Care Faith not only purifies the Heart but satisfies the Heart Faith makes God our Portion and so in him we have enough Psal. 16.5 The Lord is the Portion of mine Inheritance the Lines are fallen unto me in pleasant places yea I have a goodly Heritage Faith by a Divine Chymistry extracts its chief Comforts out of God A little with God is sweet Thus Faith is a Remedy against Covetousness Faith overcomes not only the Fear of the World but the Love of the World 2. The Second Remedy is Judicious Consideration 1. What poor things these things below are that we should covet them 1. They are below the worth of the Soul which carries in it an Idea and Resemblance of God The World is but the Workmanship of God the Soul is the Image of God 2. You covet that which will not satisfie you Eccles. 5.10 He that loveth Silver shall not be satisfied with Silver Solomon
take heed of which will bring the Fire of God's Wrath. 1. The Fire of Rash Anger Some who profess Religion yet cannot bridle their Tongue they care not what they say in their Anger they will curse their Passions St. Iames saith The Tongue is set on Fire of Hell Chap. 3.6 O take heed of a Fiery Tongue leâ—t it bring thee to Fiery Torment Dives begg'd a Drop of Water to cool his Tongue St. Cyprian saith He had offended most in his Tongue and now that was most set on Fire 2. Take heed of the Fire of Malice Malice is a malignant Humour whereby we wish Evil to another It is a Vermin lives on Blood it studies Revenge Caligula had a Chest where he kept deadly Poysons for them he had Malice against The Fire of Malice brings Men to the Fiery Furnace of God's Wrath. 3. Take heed of the Sin of Vncleanness Heb. 13.4 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge Such as burn in Uncleanness are in great Danger to burn one Day in Hell Let one Fire put out another let the Fire of God's Wrath put out the Fire of Lust. 3 d. Br. To you who have a well-grounded hope that you shall not feel this Wrath which you have deserved let me exhort you 1. To be very thankful to God who hath given his Son to save you from this tremendous Wrath. Iesus hath deliver'd you from Wrath to come The Lamb of God was scorch'd in the Fire of God's Wrath for you Christ did feel the Wrath which he did not deserve that you may escape the Wrath which you have deserved Pliny observes that there is nothing better to quench Fire than Blood Christ's Blood hath quench'd the Fire of God's Wrath for you Vpon me upon me be the Curse said Rebecka to Iacob Gen. 27.13 So said Christ to God's Justice Upon me be the Curse that my Elect may inherit the Blessing 2. Be patient under all the Afflictions which you endure Affliction is sharp but this is not Wrath this is not Hell Who would not willingly drink in the Cup of Affliction that knows he shall never drink in the Cup of Damnation Who would not be willing to bear the Wrath of Men that knows he shall never feel the Wrath of God Christian tho thou mayst feel the Rod thou shalt never feel the bloody Ax. Austin once said Strike Lord where thou wilt if sin be pardoned So say Afflict me Lord as thou wilt in this Life seeing I shall escape Wrath to come Quest. What doth God require of us that we may escape the Wrath and Curse due to us for Sin Answ. Faith in Iesus Christ Repentance unto Life with the diligent use of all the outward means whereby Christ communicateth to us the Benefits of Redemption I begin with the First Faith in Iesus Christ Rom. 3.25 Whom God hath set forth to be a Propâ—tiation through Faith in his Blood The great Priviledge in the Text is to have Christ for a Propitiation which is not only to free us from God's Wrath but to ingraâ—iate us into God's Love and Favour And the Means of having Christ to be our Propitiation is Faith in his Blood There is a two-fold Faith Fides quae creditur i. e. The Doctrine of Faith and Fides qua creditur i. e. the Grace of Faith The Act of Justifying Faith lies in Recumbency We do 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rest on Christ alone for Salvation As a Man that is ready to drown catcheth hold on the Bough of a Tree So a poor trembling Sinner seeing himself ready to perish catcheth hold by Faith on Christ the Tree of Life and so is saved The Work of Faith is the Holy Spirit therefore Faith is called the Fruit of the Spirit Gal. 5.22 Faith doth not grow in Nature it is an outlandish Plant a Fruit of the Spirit This Grace of Faith is Sanctissimum humani pectoris Bonum of all others the most precious rich Faith and most Holy Faith and Faith of Gods Elect. Hence it is called Precious Faith 2 Pet. 1.1 As Gold is the most precious among the Metals so is Faith among the Graces Faith is the Queen of the Graces Faith is the Condition of the Gospel Thy Faith hath saved thee Luke 7.50 Not thy Tears Faith is the Vital Artery of the Soul it animates it Hab. 2.4 The Iust shall live by his Faith Unbelievers tho they breathe yet want Life Faith is as Clemens Alexandrinus calls it a Mother-Grace it excites and invigorates all the Graces Not a Grace stirs till Faith sets it awork Faith sets Repentance awork 't is like Fire to the Still Faith sets Hope awork First we believe the Promise then we hope for it Did not Faith feed the Lamp of Hope with Oyl it would soon die Faith sets Love awork Gal. 5.6 Faith which worketh by love Who can believe in the Infinite Merits of Christ and his Heart not ascend in a Fiery Chariot of Love Faith is a Catholicon or Remedy against all Troubles A Sheat-Anchor we cast out into the Sea of God's Mercy and are kept from sinking in Despair Other Graces have done worthily but thou O Faith excellest them all Indeed in Heaven Love will be the chief Grace but while we are here militant Love must give place to Faith Love takes possession of Glory but Faith gives a Title to it Love is the crowning Grace in Heaven but Faith is the conquering Grace upon Earth 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the Victory that overcometh the World even our Faith Faith carries away the Garland from all the other Graces Other Graces help to sanctifie us but it is Faith only that hath the Honour to Justifie Rom. 5.1 Being justifyed 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 By Faith Quest. But how comes Faith to be so precious Ans. Not as it is a more holy Quality or as if it had more Worthiness than other Graces but respectu Objecti As it lays hold on Christ the blessed Object and fetcheth in his Fulness Iohn 9.16 Faith in it self consider'd is but manus mendica The Beggar 's Hand But as this Hand receives the rich Alms of Christ's Merits so it is precious and doth Challenge a Superiority over the rest of the Graces Vse I. 1 st Br. Of all Sins beware of the Rock of Vnbelief Heb. 3.12 Take heed lest there be in any of you an evil Heart of Vnbelief Men think as long as they are not Drunkards or Swearers it is no great matter to be Unbelievers This is the Gospel-sin it dies your other Sins in Grain 1. Unbelief is a Christ-reproaching Sin Unbelief disparageth Christ's Infinite Merit as if it could not save Unbelief makes the Wound of Sin to be broader than the Plaister of Christ's Blood This is an high Contempt offered to Christ and is a deeper Speaâ— than that which the Jews thrust into his Side 2. Unbelief is an Vngrateful Sin Ingratus vitandus est ut dirum scelus tellus ipsa foedius nihil creat
of God because no condemnation Rom. 8.1 No condemnation to them in Christ Iesus God doth not condemn them nor Conscience doth not condemn them Both Jury and Judge acquit them then no evil befalls them for nothing is really an evil but that which damns 10. If God be our Father this may make us go with chearfulness to the Throne of Grace Were a Man to petition his enemy there were little hope but when a Child petitions his Father he may come with confidence to speed The word Father works upon God it toucheth his very Bowels What can a Father deny his Child If a Son ask bread will he give him a stone Matth. 7.9 This may embolden us to go to God for pardon of Sin and further degrees of Sanctity We pray to a Father of Mercy setting upon a Throne of Grace Luke 11.13 If ye then being evil know how to give good gifts to your children how much more shall your heavenly Father give his Spirit to them that ask him This did quicken the Church and add wings to Prayer Isa. 63.15 Look down from heaven ver 16. Doubtless thou art our Father Who doth God keep his Mercies for but his Children Three things may cause boldness in Prayer We have a Father to pray to and the Spirit to help us to pray and an Advocate to present our Prayers Gods Children should in all their troubles run to their Heavenly Father as that sick Child 2 Kin. 4.19 He said unto his Father My head my head So pour out thy complaint to God in Prayer Father my heart my heart My dead heart quicken it my hard heart soften it in Christs Blood Father my heart my heart Sure God that hears the cry of the Ravens will hear the cry of his Children 11. If God be our Father he will stand between us and danger A Father will keep off danger from his Child God calls himself scutum a shield A shield defends the Head guards the Vitals God shields off dangers from his Children Acts 18.10 I am with thee and none shall set on thee to hurt thee God is an hiding place Psalm 27.5 God preserved Athanasius strangely he put it into his mind to depart out of the house he was in the night before the enemies came to search for him As God hath a Breast to feed so he hath Wings to cover his Children Psal. 91.4 He shall cover thee with his feathers and under his wings shalt thou trust God appoints his holy Angels to be a Life-guard about his Children Heb. 1.14 never was any Prince so well guarded as a Believer The Angels 1. are a numerous guard 2 Kings 6.17 The mountain was full of horses of fire round about Elisha The Horses and Chariots of fire were the Angels of God to defend the Prophet Elisha 2. A strong guard One Angel in a night slew an hundred and fourscore and five thousand 2 Kin. 19.32 if one Angel slew so many what would an Army of Angels have done 3. The Angels are a swift guard they are ready in an instant to help Gods Children therefore they are described with wings to show their swiftness they fly to our help Dan. 9.21 23. At the beginning of thy supplication the commandment came forth and I am come to thee Here was a swift motion for the Angel to come from Heaven to Earth between the beginning and ending of Daniels Prayer 4. The Angels are a watchful guard not like Sauls guard asleep when their Lord was in danger 1 Sam. 26.12 The Angels are a vigilant guard they watch over Gods Children to defend them Psal. 34.7 The Angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him There is an invisible guardianship of Angels about Gods Children 12. If God be our Father we shall not want any thing that he sees is good for us Psal. 34.10 They that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing God is pleased sometimes to keep his Children to hard commons but it is good for them Sheep thrive best on short pasture God sees too much may not be good plenty breeds surfeit Luxuriant animi rebus secundis God sees it good sometimes to dyet his Children and keep them short that they may run the Heavenly Race the better it was good for Iacob there was a Famine in the Land it was a means to bring him to his Son Ioseph so it is that Gods Children sometimes see the Worlds emptiness that they may acquaint themselves more with Christs fulness if God see it be good for them to have more of the World they shall have it God will not let them want any good thing 13. If God be our Father all the Promises of the Bible belong to us Gods Children are called Heirs of the promise Heb. 6.17 A wicked Man can lay claim to nothing in the Bible but the Curses he hath no more to do absolutely with the Promises than a Ploughman hath to do with the City Charter the Promises are Childrens Bread the Promises are mulctralia Evangelii the Breasts of the Gospel milking out Consolation and who are to suck of these Breasts but Gods Children The promise of Pardon is for them Ier. 33.8 I will pardon all their iniquity whereby they have sinned against me The promise of Healing is for them Isa. 57.18 the promise of Salvation Ier. 23.6 the Promises are supports of Faith they are Gods sealed Deed they are a Christians Cordial O the Heavenly Comforts which are distilled from the Lembick of the Promises St. Chrysostome compares the Scripture to a Garden the Promises are the Fruit-Trees that grow in this Garden A Child of God may go to any Promise in the Bible and pluck Comfort from it He is an Heir of the Promise 14. God makes all his Children Conquerours They are born of God and are conquerours 1. They conquer themselves Fortior est qui se quam qui fortissima vincit maenia The Saints conquer their own Lusts they bind these princes in fetters of iron Psal. 149.8 Though the Children of God may sometimes be foiled and lose a single battle yet not the victory 2. They conquer the World The World holds forth her two Breasts of Pleasure and Profit and many are overcome by it but the Children of God have a World-conquering Faith 1 Iohn 5.4 This is the victory over the world even your faith 3. They conquer their Enemies How can that be when they oft take away their Lives 1. They conquer by not complying with them The three Children would not fall down to the Golden Image Dan. 3.18 they would rather burn than bow here they were Conquerours He who complyes with anothers Lust is a Captive he who refuseth to comply is a Conquerour 2. Gods Children conquer their enemies by heroick Patience A patient Christian like the anvil bears all strokes invincibly Thus the Martyrs overcame their enemies by Patience nay Gods Children are more than conquerours Rom. 8.37 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 We
had betrayed Christ and hanged himself Thus Satan is the worst Tyrant when Men have served him to their utmost strength he will welcome them to Hell with Fire and Brimstone VSE Let us pray that Satans Kingdom set up in the World may be thrown down 'T is sad to think that though the Devils Kingdom be so bad yet that it should have so many to support it Satan hath more to stand up for his Kingdom than Christ hath for his What a large harvest of Souls hath Satan and God only a few gleanings The Pope and the Turk give their power to Satan If in Gods visible Church the Devil hath so many Loyal Subjects that serve him with their Lives and Souls then how do his Subjects swarm in places of Idolatry and Paganism where there is none to oppose him but all vote on the Devils side Men are willingly slaves to Satan they will fight and dye for him therefore Satan is not only called the Prince of this world Iohn 14.30 but the God of this world 2 Cor. 4.4 to show what power Satan hath over Mens Souls O let us pray that God will break the Scepter of the Devils Kingdom that Michael may destroy the Dragon that by the help of a Religious Magistracy and Ministry the Hellish Kingdom of the Prince of Darkness may be beaten down Satans Kingdom must be thrown down before Christs Kingdom can flourish in its Power and Majesty 2. When we pray Thy Kingdom come here is something positively intended 1. We pray that the Kingdom of Grace may be set up in our hearts and encreased 2. That the Kingdom of Glory may hasten and that we may in Gods due time be translated into it I begin with the First The Kingdom of Grace When we pray Thy Kingdom come we pray 1. That the Kingdom of Grace may come into our hearts This is Regnum Dei 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gods lesser Kingdom Rom. 14.17 The Kingdom of God is righteousness Luke 17.21 The kingdom of God is within you Quest. 1. Why is Grace called a Kingdom Answ. Because where Grace comes there is a Kingly Government set up in the Soul Grace rules the Will and Affections and brings the whole Man in subjection to Christ. Grace doth king it in the Soul it swayes the Scepter it subdues mutinous Lusts and keeps the Soul in a Spiritual Decorum Quest. 2. Why is there such need that we should pray that this Kingdom of Grace come into our hearts Resp. 1. Because till the Kingdom of Grace come we have no right to the Covenant of Grace The Covenant of Grace is sweetned with Love bespangled with Promises the Covenant of Grace is our Magna Charta by vertue of which God passeth himself over to us to be our God But who are Heirs of the Covenant of Grace only such as have the kingdom of Grace in their hearts Ezek. 36.26 A new heart will I give you and a new spirit will I put within you there is the kingdom of Grace set up in the Soul then it followes ver 28. I will be your God The Covenant of Grace is to an ungracious Person a sealed Fountain it is kept as Paradise with a Flaming Sword that the Sinner may not touch it without Grace you have no more right to it than a Farmer to the City Charter 2. Unless the Kingdom of Grace be set up in our hearts our purest Offerings are defiled they may be good as to the matter but not as to the manner they want that which should meliorate and sweeten them under the Law If a Man who was unclean by a dead body did carry a piece of holy flesh in his skirt the holy flesh could not cleanse him but he polluted that Hag. 2.12 Till the kingdom of Grace be in our hearts Ordinances do not purifie us but we pollute them the Prayer of an ungracious person becomes sin Prov. 15.8 In what a sad condition is a Man before Gods kingdom of Grace be set up in his heart whether he comes or comes not to the Ordinance he sins If he doth not come to the Ordinance he is a contemner of it if he doth come he is a polluter of it A Sinners works are opera mortua dead works Heb. 1.6 and those works which are dead cannot please God a dead Flower hath no sweetness 3. We had need pray that the kingdom of Grace may come because till this kingdom come into our hearts we are loathsome in Gods eyes Zech. 11.8 My soul loathed them Quanta est faeditas vitiosae mentis Tully An heart void of Grace looks blacker than Hell Sin transforms one into a Devil Iohn 6.70 Have not I chosen twelve and one of you is a devil Envy is the Devils eye hypocrisie is his cloven-foot thus it is before the kingdom of Grace come So deformed is a Graceless person that when once he sees his own filth and leprosie the first thing he doth is to loath himself Ezek. 20.43 Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils I have read of a Woman who alwayes used flattering glasses by chance seeing her Face in a true glass in insaniam delapsa est she ran mad Such as now dress themselves by the flattering glass of presumption when once God gives them a sight of their filthiness they will abhor themselves Ye shall loath your selves in your own sight for all your evils 4. Before the kingdom of Grace comes into us we are Spiritually illegitimate of the Bastard brood of the Old Serpent Iohn 8.44 To be illegitimate is the greatest infamy Deut. 23.2 A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord to the tenth generation He was to be kept out of the holy Assemblies of Israel as an infamous Creature A Bastard by the Law cannot inherit before the kingdom of Grace come into the heart a person is to God as one illegitimate and so continuing he cannot enter into the Congregation of Heaven 5. Before the kingdom of Grace be set up in Mens hearts the kingdom of Satan is set up in them They are said to be under the power of Satan Acts 26.18 Satan commands the Will though he cannot force the Will he can by his subtle temptations draw it The Devil is said to take men captive at his will 2 Tim. 2.26 the Greek word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies to take them alive as the Fowler doth the bird in the snare The sinners heart is the Devils Mansion-house Matth. 12.44 I will go to my house It is officina Diaboli Satans shop where he works Eph. 2.2 The prince of the air now worketh in the children of disobedience The members of the Body are the tools which Satan works with Satan possesseth Men. In Christs time many had their Bodies possessed but it is far worse to have their Souls possessed One is possessed with an unclean Devil another with a revengeful Devil No wonder the Ship goes full sail when the
hate him as he is the holy One 2. Men are prejudiced at the Truths of Christ. 1. Self-denyal A man must deny his Righteousness Phil. 3.9 his Duties and Moralities he would graft the hope of Salvation upon the stock of his own Righteousness 2. He must deny his Unrighteousness The Scripture seals no patents to Sin it teacheth us to deny all ungodliness and worldly lusts Tit. 2.11 We must divorce those Sins which bring in Pleasure and Profit 3. Forgiving of injuries Mark 11.25 These Truths Men are prejudiced at they can rather want forgiveness from God than they can forgive others 3. Men are prejudiced at the Followers of Christ. 1. Their paucity there are but few in comparison that embrace Christ but why should this offend Men are not offended at Pearls and precious Stones because they are but few 2. Their Poverty many that wear Christs livery are low in the World but why should this give offence 1. Christ hath better things than these to bestow upon his Followers the holy Anointing the white Stones the hidden Manna the Crown of Glory 2. All Christs Followers are not humbled with Poverty Abraham was rich in Gold and Silver as well as rich in Faith Though not many Noble are called yet some Noble Acts 17.12 Honourable women which were Greeks believed Constantine and Theodosius were Godly Emperours so that this stumbling block is removed 3. Their Scandals Some of Christs Followers under a mask of Piety commit sin this begets a prejudice against Religion but doth Christ or his Gospel teach any such thing The Rules he prescribes are holy Why should the Master be thought the worse of because some of his Servants prove bad 4. Men are prejudiced at the Wayes of Christ they expose them to Sufferings Matth. 16.24 Let him take up his cross and follow me many stumble at the Cross. There are as Tertullian delicaetuli silken Christians who love their ease they will follow Christ to Mount Oliver to see him transfigured but not to Mount Golgotha to suffer with him But alas what is Affliction to the Glory that follows The weight of Glory makes Affliction light Adimant Caput non Coronam O take heed of prejudice this hath been a stumbling stone in Mens way to Heaven and hath made them fall short of the Kingdom 6. If you would not miss of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Presumption Men presume all is well and take it as a principle not to be disputed that they shall go to Heaven The Devil hath given them Opium to cast them into a deep sleep of security The presumptuous Sinner is like the Leviathan made without fear He lives as bad as the worst yet hopes he shall be saved as well as the best He blesseth himself and saith he shall have peace though he goes on in sin Deut. 29.19 As if a Man should drink Poyson yet not fear but he should have his health But whence doth this presumptuous hope arise Surely from a conceit that God is made up all of Mercy 'T is true God is merciful but withal he is just too Exod. 34.6 7. Keeping mercy for thousands and that will by no means clear the guilty If a King did proclaim that only those should be pardoned who came in and submitted should any still persisting in Rebellion claim the benefit of that Pardon Dost thou hope for Mercy who wilt not lay down thy Weapons but stand out in Rebellion against Heaven None might touch the Ark but the Priests none may touch this Ark of Gods Mercy but holy consecrated Persons Presumption is heluo Animarum the great devourer of Souls A thousand have missed of Heaven by putting on the broad spectacles of Presumption 7. If you would not miss of the Heavenly Kingdom take heed of the delights and pleasures of the Flesh soft pleasures harden the heart Many people cannot endure a serious Thought but are for Comedies and Romances they play away their Salvation Homines capiuntur voluptate ut pisces hamo Cicero Pleasure is the sugred bait Men bite at but there is an hook under Iob 21.12 They take the timbrel and harp and rejoyce at the sound of the organ And a parallel Scripture Amos 6.4 That lye upon beds of ivory that chant to the sound of the viol that drink wine in bowls and anoint themselves with the chief oyntments The pleasures of the World do keep many from the pleasures of Paradise What a shame is it that the Soul that princely thing which swayes the sceptre of Reason and is akin to Angels should be enslaved to sinful pleasure Beard in his Theatre speaks of one who had a Room richly hung with fair Pictures he had most delicious Musick he had the rarest Beauties he had all the Candies and curious Preserves of the Confectioner thus did he gratifie his Senses with Pleasure and swore he would live one week like a God though he were sure to be damned in Hell the next day Diodorus Siculus observes that the Dogs of Sicily while they are hunting among the sweet Flowers lose the scent of the Hare so many while they are hunting after the sweet pleasures of the World lose the Kingdom of Heaven 'T is saith Theophylact one of the worst sights to see a Sinner go laughing to Heaven 8 If you would not fall short of the Kingdom of Heaven take heed of Worldlimindedness a covetous Spirit is a dunghil Spirit it choaks good Affections as the earth puts out the fire The World hindred the young Man from following Christ abiit tristis he went away sorrowful Luke 18.23 which extorted those words from our Saviour Verse 24. How hardly shall they that have Riches enter into the Kingdom of God Divitiae saeculi sunt laquei Diaboli Bern. Riches are golden Snares If a Man were to climb up a steepy Rock and had Weights tied to his Legs it would hinder him from his ascent Too many Golden Weights will hinder us from climbing that steepy Rock which leads to Heaven Exod. 14.3 They are entangled in the Land the Wilderness hath shut them in So it may be said of many they are entangled in earthly Affairs the World hath shut them in The World is no Friend to Grace the more the Child sucks the weaker the Nurse is and the more the World sucks and draws from us the weaker our Grace is 1 Iohn 2.15 Love not the world Had a Man a Monopoly of all the wealth of the World were he able to empty the Western Parts of Gold and the Eastern of Spices could he heap up Riches to the Starry heaven yet his heart would not be filled Covetousness is a dry dropsy Ioshua who could stop the course of the Sun could not stop Achan in his covetous pursuit of the Wedge of Gold he whose heart is lockt up in his Chest will be lockt out of heaven Some Ships that have escaped the Rocks have been cast away upon the Sands Many who have escaped gross Sins
on the Morning of the Marriage day he puts on his Vesture and wedding Robes in which he shall be married to his Bride so in all the Duties of Religion we are putting on those wedding Robes in which we shall be married to Christ in Glory O what solace and inward Peace is there in close walking with God Isa. 32.17 The Work of Righteousness shall be Peace Serving of God is like gathering of Spices or Flowers wherein there is some labour but the labour is recompenced with delight Working for Heaven is like digging in a Gold Mine the digging is labour but getting the Gold is pleasure O then let us bestir our selves for the Kingdom of Heaven it is a labour full of Pleasure a Christian would not part with his Joy for the most delicious Musick he would not exchange his Anchor of Hope for a Crown of Gold Well might David say in keeping thy Precepts there is great Reward Psal. 19.11 not only after keeping thy Precepts but in keeping them a Christian hath both the Spring Flowers and the Crop inward delight in serving God there is the Spring Flowers and the Kingdom of Glory at last there is the full Crop 22. How industrious have the Saints in former Ages been they thought they could never do enough for Heaven they could never serve God enough love him enough minus te amavi Domine Austin Lord I have loved thee too little What Pains did Saint Paul take for the Heavenly Kingdom Phil. 3.13 Reaching forth unto those things which are before 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Greek Word to reach forth signifies to stretch out the neck a Metaphor from Racers who strain every Limb and reach forward to lay hold on the Prize Anna the Prophetess Luke 2.37 departed not from the Temple but served God with Fastings and Prayers night and day Basil the Great by much labour and watching exhausted his bodily strength Let Racks Pullies and all torments come upon me said Ignatius so I may win Christ. The Industry and Courage of former Saints who are now crowned with Glory should provoke our diligence that so at last we may sit down with them in the Kingdom of Heaven 23. The more pains we take for Heaven the more welcome will Death be to us What is it makes Men so loath to dye they are like a Tenant that will not out of the House till the Sergeant pull him out they love not to hear of Death why so because their Conscience accuseth them that they have taken little or no pains for Heaven they have been sleeping when they should have been working and now they are afraid least Death should carry them Prisoners to Hell Whereas he who hath spent his time in serving of God he can look Death in the Face with comfort he was wholly taken up about Heaven and now he shall be taken up to Heaven he traded before in Heaven and now he shall go to live there Phil. 1.23 Cupio dissolvi I desire to be dissolved and be with Christ Paul had wholly laid out himself for God 1 Cor. 15.10 and now he knew there was a Crown laid up for him and he longed to take Possession Thus I have given you twenty three Perswasives or Arguments to exert and put forth your utmost diligence for the obtaining the Kingdom of Heaven O that these Arguments were written in all your Hearts as with the Point of a Diamond and because delaies in these Cases are dangerous let me desire you to set upon this Work for Heaven presently Psal. 119.60 I made hast and delayed not to keep thy Commandments Many People are convinced of the necessity of looking after the Kingdom of Glory but they say as those Hagg. 1.2 The time is not yet come They adjourn and put off till their time is slip'd away and so they lose the Kingdom of Heaven beware of this fallacy delay strengthens sin hardens the heart and gives the Devil fuller possession of a Man 1 Sam. 21.8 The Kings business requires hast so the business of Salvation requires hast do not put off an hour longer volat ambiguis mobilis alis hora what assurance have you that you shall live another day have you any lease of life granted why then do you not presently arise out of the Bed of Sloath and put forth all your strength and Spirits that you may be possessed of the Kingdom of Glory should not things of the highest importance be done first setling a Mans Estate and clearing the Title to his Land is not delayed but done in the first place what is there of such grand importance as this the saving of your Souls and the gaining of a Kingdom therefore to day hear Gods Voice now mind Eternity now get your Title to Heaven cleared before the Decree of Death bring forth what imprudence is it to lay the heaviest Load upon the weakest Horse so to lay the heavy Load of Repentance on thy self when thou art infeebled by sickness the Hands shake the Lips quiver the Heart faints O be wise in time now prepare for the Kingdom He who never begins his Voyage to Heaven but in the storm of Death it is a thousand to one if he doth not suffer an Eternal Shipwrack VSE VI. Of Exhortation 1. Branch If there be such a glorious Kingdom a coming then you who have any good hope through Grace that you are the Heirs of this Kingdom let me exhort you to six things 1. Often take a Prospect of this heavenly Kingdom climb up the Caelestial Mount take a turn as it were in Heaven every day by holy Meditation Psal. 48.12 13. Walk about Sion tell the Towers thereof mark well her Bulwarks See what a glorious Kingdom Heaven is go-tell the Towers view the Palaces of the Heavenly Ierusalem Christian show thy Heart the Gates of Pearl the Bed of Spices the Clusters of Grapes which grow in the Paradise of God say O my Soul all this Glory is thine it is thy Fathers good pleasure to give thee this Kingdom The Thoughts of Heaven are very delightful and ravishing can Men of the World so delight in viewing their Bags of Gold and Fields of Corn and shall not the Heirs of Promise take more delight in contemplating the Caelestial Kingdom The serious Meditation of the Kingdom of Glory would work these three effects 1. It would put a damp and slur upon all worldly Glory Those who stand upon the top of the Alps the great Cities of Campania seem but small in their eye Could we look through the Perspective Glass of Faith and take a view of Heavens Glory how small and minute would all other things appear Moses slighted the Honours of Pharaohs Court having an eye to the Recompence of Reward Heb. 11.26 St. Paul who had a Vision of Glory and Saint Iohn who was carried away in the Spirit and saw the holy Ierusalem descending out of Heaven having the Glory of God in it Rev. 21.11 how did the world
hearts to submission Lord if thou usest so much gentleness and correctest in measure Thy Will be done 12. There is kindness in Affliction in that God often sweetens it with divine Consolation 2 Cor. 1.4 Who comforteth us in all our Tribulation After a bitter Potion a lump of Sugar God comforts in Affliction 1. Partly by his Word Psal. 119.50 This is my Comfort in my Affliction for thy Word hath quickened me The Promises of the word are a shop of Cordials 2. God comforts by his Spirit Philip Landtgrave of Hesse said that in his troubles se divinas Martyrum consolationes sensisse he felt the divine Consolations of the Martyrs David had his Pilgrimage-Songs Psal. 119.54 and St. Paul his Prison-Songs Act. 16.25 Thus God candies our Wormwood with Sugar and makes us gather Grapes of Thorns Some of the Saints have had such ravishing Joys in Affliction that they had rather endure their Sufferings then want their Comforts O how much kindness is in the Cross In the Belly of this Lyon is an Honey-Comb may not this make us chearfully submit to Gods Will when God lines the Yoak with Comfort and gives us honey at the end of the Rod 13. There is kindness in Affliction in that God doth curtail and shorten it he will not let it lye on too long Isa. 57.16 I will not contend for ever least the Spirit should fail before me God will give his People a Writ of Ease and proclaim a Year of Jubilee the wicked may plow upon the backs of the Saints but God will cut their Traces Psal. 129.4 The Goldsmith will not let his gold lye any longer in the Furnace then till it is purified The Wicked must drink a Sea of Wrath but the Godly have only a Cup of Affliction Isa. 51.17 and God will say Let this Cup pass away Affliction may be compared to Frost it will break and Spring Flowers will come on Isa. 35. Sorrow and sighing shall fly away Affliction hath a Sting but withal a Wing sorrow shall fly away this Land Flood shall be dryed up if then there be so much kindness in the Cross God will cause a Cessation of trouble say then Fiat Voluntas tua Thy Will be done 14. Vlt. There is kindness in Affliction in that it is a means to make us happy Iob 5.17 Behold happy is the Man whom God correcteth This seems strange to flesh and blood that Affliction should make one happy when Moses saw the bush burning and not consumed I will sâ—ith he turn aside and see this strange sight Exod. 3.3 So here is a strange sight a Man afflicted yet happy The World counts them happy who can escape Affliction but happy is the Man whom God correcteth Quest. But how do Afflictions contribute to our happiness Resp. 1. As they are a means to bring us nearer to God the Loadstone of Prosperity doth not draw us so near to God as the Cords of Affliction VVhen the Prodigal was pinch'd with want then saith he I will arise and go to my Father Luke 15.18 The Deluge brought the Dove to the Ark The Floods of Sorrow make us hasten to Christ. 2. Afflictions make us happy as they are Manuductions to Glory The Storm drives the Ship into the harbour Happy is that Storm which drives the Soul into the Heavenly harbour is it not better to go through affliction to glory then through pleasure to misery not that afflictions merit glory no cross ever merited but that which Christ endured but they do disponere fit and prepare us for glory Think O Christian what Affliction leads to it leads to Paradise where are Rivers of Pleasure always running may not this make us chearfully submit to Gods VVill and say Lord if there be so much kindness in Affliction if all thou dost is to make us happy Thy Will be done 7. Consideration It is Gods ordinary course to keep his People to a bitter Diet-Drink and exercise them with great Trials Affliction is the beaten Road all the Saints have gone in The lively Stones in the Spiritual building have been all hewn and polished Christs Lilly hath grown among the Thorns 2 Tim. 3.12 All that will live Godly in Christ Iesus shall suffer persecution 'T is too much for a Christian to have two Heavens that is more than Christ had It hath been ever the lot of the Saints to encounter with sore tryals Both of the Prophets Iam. 5.10 Take my brethren the Prophets for an example of suffering affliction And of the Apostles Peter was Crucified with his Head downward Iames beheaded by Herod Iohn banished into the Isle of Patmos the Apostle Thomas thrust thorow with a spear who was chosen Apostle in Iudas room Matthias stoned to death Luke the Evangelist hanged on an Olive-tree Those Saints of whom the World was not worthy did pass under the Rod Hebr. 11.36 Christs Kingdom is Regnum Crucis this is the way God hath alwayes gone in such as God intends to save from Hell yet he doth not save from the Cross the consideration of this should quiet our Minds in Affliction and make us say Thy Will be done Do we think God will alter his course of Providence for us Why should we look for exemption from trouble more than others Why should we think to tread only upon Roses and Violets when Prophets and Apostles have marched through the Bryars to Heaven 8. Consideration God hath done that for thee Christian which may make thee content to suffer any thing at his hand and say Thy Will be done 1. He hath adopted thee for his Child David thought it no small Honour to be the Kings Son in Law 1 Sam. 18.18 what an Honour is it to derive thy pedigree from Heaven to be born of God why then art thou troubled and murmurest at every slight cross As Ionadab said to Amnon 2 Sam. 13.4 Why art thou being the Kings Son lean So why art thou who art Son or Daughter to the King of Heaven troubled at these petty things What the Kings Son and look lean This may quiet thy Spirit and bring thy Will to Gods he hath dignified thee with Honour he made thee his Son and Heir and will entail a Kingdom on thee 2. God hath given thee Christ. Christ is communis thesaurus a Magazine and Storehouse of all Heavenly Treasure a Pearl of Price to enrich a Tree of Life to quicken He is the quintessence of all Blessings why then art thou discontented at thy Worldly Crosses They cannot be so bitter as Christ is sweet as Seneca said once to Polybius Why dost thou complain of hard Fortune salvo Caesare is not Caesar thy Friend So is not Christ thy Friend He can never be poor who hath a Mine of Gold in his Field nor he who hath the unsearchable Riches of Christ Say then Lord Thy Will be done though I have my Cross yet I have Christ with it The Cross may make me weep but Christ wipes off all
by him It alludes to a Bird that is taken alive in the Snare thus you see he is the Evil one The Devils work is to angle for mens Souls he lays suitable Baits He allures the ambitious Man with Honour the covetous Man with Riches he hooks his Baits with Silver he allures the lustful Man with Beauty he tempts Men to Delila's Lap to keep them from Abraham's Bosom The Devil glories in the Damnation of Souls how needful then is this Prayer Deliver us from Evil. Lord keep us from the Evil One. Tho' Satan may sollicite us to sin suffer us not to give Consent Tho' he may Assault the Castle of our Hearts yet let us not deliver up the Keys of the Castle to our mortal Enemy 3. In this Petition Deliver us from Evil we pray to be delivered from the Evil of the World 'T is call'd an Evil World Gal. 1.4 not but that the World as God made it is Good but through our Corruption it becomes Evil and we had need pray deliver us from an Evil World Quest. In what Sence is it Saeculum malum an Evil World Answ. 1. As it is a defiling World 'T is like living in an infectious Air it requires an high degree of Grace to keep our selves unspotted from the World Iam. 1.27 'T is as hard to live in the World and not be defiled as to go much in the Sun and not be tanned 1. The Opinions of the World are defiling that a little Religion will serve the turn like Leaf-Gold it must be spread but thin That Morality runs parallel with Grace that to be Zealous is to be Righteous over-much That it is better to keep the skin whole than the Conscience Pure That the Flesh is rather to be gratified than mortified These Opinions of the World are defiling 2. The Examples of the World are defiling Examples have a great Force in them to draw us to Evil. Princeps imperio magnus exemplo major Princes are Looking-Glasses which we dress our selves by if they do Evil we are apt to imitate them Great Men are Copies we set before us and usually we write most like the Copy when it is blotted there 's a great Proneness in us to follow the Examples of the World Therefore God hath put in a Caveat against it Exod. 23.2 Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do Evil. How easily are we hurried to sin when we have the Tide of Natural Corruption and the wind of Example to carry us Lot was the worlds Wonder the Complexion of his Soul kept Pure in Sodoms infectious Air. The River of Peru in America after it hath run into the main Sea keeps fresh and doth not mingle with the salt Waters To this River might Lot be compared whose Piety kept fresh in Sodoms salt Water Bad Examples are catching Psal. 106.35 They were mingled among the Heathen and Learned their Works Had not we need then pray Lord deliver us from this Evil World Living in the World is like travelling in a dirty Road. 2. It is an evil World as it is an insnaring World The World 's full of Snares Company is a snare Recreation a snare Oaths are snares Riches are golden snares Opes irritamenta malorum The Apostle speaks of the Lust of the Flesh the Lust of the Eye and the Pride of Life 1 Ioh. 2.16 The Lust of the Flesh is Beauty the Lust of the Eye is Money the Pride of Life is Honour these are the natural Mans Trinity In mundo splendor Opum Gloriae Majestas Voluptatum illecebrae ab amore Dei nos abstrahunt The World is a flattering Enemy whom it kisses it oft betrays it is a silken Halter the Pleasures of the World like Opium cast men into the sleep of Security Lysimachus sold his Crown for a draught of Water so many part with Heaven for the World It is an ensnaring World the King of Armenia was sent Prisoner to Queen Cleopatra in Golden Fetters Too many are inslaved with the worlds golden Fetters the World bewitch'd Demas 2 Tim. 4.10 One of Christs own Apostles was caught with a silver Bait. 'T is hard to drink the Wine of Prosperity and not be giddy Thus the World through our innate Corruption is Evil as it is a Snare 1 Tim. 6.9 They that will be rich fall into Temptation and a Snare If an Angel were to live here there were no danger of the Worlds insnaring him because he hath no Principle within to receive the Temptation but we have a Corrupt Principle that suits with the Temptation and that makes us always in Danger 3. It is an evil World as it is a discouraging World It casts Scorn and Reproach upon them who live vertuously what you will be holier than others Wiser than your Ancestors The World deals with the Professors of Religion as Sanballat did with the Iews when they were building Nehem. 4.1 He mocked the Jews and said What do thâ—se feeble Jews will they Fortifie themselves will they revive the Stones out of the heaps of Rubbish that are burnt So the wicked World casts out Squibs of Reproach at the godly what will ye build for Heaven What needs all this Cost What Profit is it to serve the Almighty Thus the World would pluck off our Chariot-Wheels when we are driving towards Heaven they are called Cruel Mockings Heb. 11.36 It requires a great measure of Sanctity to with-stand the Discouragements of the World to dance among Serpents to laugh at Reproaches and bind them as a Crown about our Head 4. It is an evil World as it is a deadning World It dulls and deadneth the Affections to Heavenly Objects The World cools Holy Motions like a Damp in a silver Mine which puts out the Light Earthly things choke the Seed of the Word A man intangled in the World is so taken up about secular Concerns that he can no more mind the things above than the earth can ascend or the Elephant fly in the Air. And even such as have Grace in them yet when their Affections are belimed with the Earth they find themselves much indisposed to Meditation and Prayer 't is like swimming with a Stone about the Neck 5. 'T is an evil World as it is a maligning World It doth disgust and hate the people of God Iohn 15.19 Because ye are not of the World therefore the World hateth you Hatred is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Aristotle saith against the whole Kind Hamans hatred was against the Seed of the whole Iews When you can find a Serpent without a Sting or a Leopard without Spots then you may expect to find a wicked World without Hatred the White that is shot at is Piety Psal. 38.20 They are mine Adversaries because I follow the thing that Good is The World pretends to hate the Godly for something else but the ground of the Quarrel is Holiness The Worlds Hatred is Implacable Anger may be reconciled Hatred cannot You may as well reconcile Heaven and Hell as
the two Seeds If the World hated Christ no wonder it hates us Iohn 15.18 The World hated me before it hated you Why should any hate Christ This Blessed Dove had no Gall this Rose of Sharon did send forth a most sweet Perfume but this shews the worlds Baseness it is a Christ-hating and a Saint-eating World Had not we need pray Deliver us from this evil World 6. It is an evil World as it is a Deceitful World First There is Deceit in dealing Hos. 12.7 He is a Merchant the Balances of Deceit are in his Hand The Hebrew word Rimmah in Pyhil signifies both to deceive and to oppress He who dares use Deceit will not spare to oppress Secondly There is Deceit in Friendship Prov. 20.6 But a faithful Man who can find Trita frequensque via est per amici fallere Nomen Some use too much Courtship in Friendship they are like Trumpets which make a great noise but within they are hollow Some can flatter and hate commend and censure Mel in Ore Fel in Corde Dissembled Love is worse than Hatred Thirdly There is Deceit in Riches Mat. 13.22 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Deceitfulness of Riches The World makes us believe it will satisfie our Desires and it doth but encrease them it makes us believe it will stay with us and it takes wings Prov. 23.5 7. It is an Evil World as it is a disquieting World 'T is full of Trouble Iohn 16.33 The World is like a Bee-hive when we have tasted a little Hony we have been stung with a thousand Bees St. Basil was of opinion that before the Fall the Rose did grow without prickles but now every sweet flower of our Life hath its prickles There are many things cause disquiet loss of Friends Law-Suits Crosses in Estate Relations are not without their Troubles Some are troubled that they want Children others troubled that they have Children the World is a vexing Vanity If a man be poor he is despised by the Rich if he be rich he is envied by the poor If we do not find it an insnaring World we shall find it an afflicting World it hath more in it to mean us than tempt us The World is a Sea where we are tossed upon the surging Waves of Sorrow and often in danger of Shipwrack the World is a Wilderderness full of fiery Serpents What storms of Persecution are raised against the Righteous 2 Tim. 3.12 The wicked are Briars Micah 7.4 where Christ's sheep lose some of their Golden Fleece Then had not we need pray Lord deliver us from being hurt by this Evil World Why should we Love the World Tho' we are commanded to love our Enemies yet this Enemy we must not love 1 Iohn 2.15 Love not the World I have been all this while opening the first Sence of this Petition Liber a nos à malo Deliver us from Evil we pray to be delivered from Sin in general and to be delivered from Evil under this three-fold Notion from the Evil of our Heart from the Evil of Satan from the Evil of the World ere I leave this let me insert a Caution Caution Not that our abstaining from or forbearing the external Acts of Sin is sufficient to intitle us to Salvation but when we pray Deliver us from Evil there is more implyed in it namely that we make a progress in Holiness Being divorced from sin is not enough unless we are espoused to Vertue therefore in Scripture these two are joyn'd Psal. 34.14 Depart from Evil and do Good Rom 12.9 And Isa. 1.16 Cease to do Evil Learn to do well 2 Cor. 7.1 Let us cleanse our selves from all Filthiness of Flesh and Spirit perfecting Holiness Leaving sin is not enough unless we embrace Righteousness Virtutis est magis honesta agere quà m non Turpia as it is in the Body it is not enough that the Disease be stop'd but it must grow in health So it is in the Soul it is not enough Acts of sin be forborn which is the stopping a Disease but it must be healthy that is grow in Holiness Vse Which reproves those who labour only to suppress the Outward Acts of sin but do not press on to Holiness They cease from doing Evil but do not learn to do well their Religion lies only in Negatives They glory in this that they are given to no Vice none can charge them with any foul Miscarriages Luke 18.11 God I thank thee that I am not as other men are Extortioners Vnjust Adulterers This is not enough you must advance a step further in solid Piety It is not enough that a field be not sown with Tares or Hemlock but it must be sown with good Seed Consider two things 1. If this be the best Certificate you have to shew that you are not guilty of gross Sins God makes no Account of you A piece of Brass tho' it be not so bad as Clay yet not being so good as Silver it will not pass for currant Coyn. So tho' you are not grosly prophane yet not being of the right Mettal wanting the stamp of Holiness you will never pass currant in Heaven 2. A Man may abstain from Evil yet he may go to Hell for not doing good Mat 3.10 Every Tree that bringeth not forth good Fruit is hewn down and cast into the fire Why were the foolish Virgins shut out They had done no hurt they had not broke their Lamps Yea but their fault was there was no goodness in them they had no Oyl in their Lamps Oh! therefore let us not content our selves in being free from gross Acts of Sin but let us launch forth further in Holiness Let us cleanse our selves from all Pollution perfecting Holiness Secondly Deliver us from Evil that is from Temporal Evil we pray that God will either prevent temporal Evils or deliver us out of them 1. We pray that God will prevent Temporal Evils That he will be our Screen to stand betwen us and Danger Psal. 7.1 Save me from them that persecute me We may lawfully pray against the Plots of the wicked that they may prove abortive That tho' they have a design upon us they may not have their desire upon us Psal. 141.9 Keep me from the snare which they have laid for me 2. We pray that God will deliver us out of Temporal Evils That he will remove his Judgments from us whether Famine Sword Pestilence Psal. 39.10 Remove thy Stroke away from me Yet with this Caution Caution We may pray to be delivered from Temporal Evils only so far as God sees it good for us We may pray to be delivered from the Evil of Sin absolutely but we must pray to be delivered from Temporal Evils conditionally so far as God sees it fitting for us and may stand with his Glory Vse In all the Troubles that lie upon us let us look up to God for Ease and Succour Deliver us from Evil Isa. 8.19 Should not a people seek unto their God To
Life of another This makes the Sin of Blood more bloody The less Provocation to a Sin the greater the Sin 2. To shed the Blood of another contrary to Promise Thus after the Princes of Israel had sworn to the Gibeonites that they should live Iosh. 9.15 Saul slew them 2 Sam. 21.1 Here were two Sins twisted together Breach of Oath and Murder 3. To take away the Life of any Publick Person inhanceth the Murder and makes it greater As 1. To Kill a Judge upon the Bench because he represents the King's Person 2. To murder a Person whose Office is Sacred and comes on the King of Heaven's Ambassage The murdering of him may be the murdering of many Herod added this Sin above all that he shut up Iohn Baptist in Prison Luke 3.20 Then much more to behead Iohn in Prison 3. To stain ones Hands with Royal Blood David's Heart smote him because he did but cut off the Lap of King Saul's Garment 1 Sam. 24.5 How would David's Heart have smote him if he had cut off Sauls Head 4. To shed the Blood of a near Relation aggravates the Murder and dies it of a deeper Crimson For a Son to kill his Father is horrid Parricides are Monsters in Nature Qui occidit patrem plurima committit peccata in uno Cicero He who takes away his Fathers Life committeth many Sins in one He is not only guilty of Murder but of Disobedience Ingratitude Ostracism and Diabolical Cruelty Exod. 21.15 He who striketh his Father or Mother shall be surely put to Death Then how many Deaths is he worthy of that destroyes his Father or Mother Such a Monster was Nero who caused his Mother Agrippina to be slain 5. To shed the Blood of any Righteous Person aggravates the Sin First Hereby Justice is perverted Such a Person being innocent is unworthy of Death Secondly A Saint being 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Publick Blessing he lies in the Breach to turn away Wrath So that to destroy him is to go to pull down the Pillars of a Nation Thirdly He is precious to God Isa. 15.43 44. He is a Member of Christ's Body therefore what Injury is offered to him is done to God himself Acts 9.4 Caution I. Tho this Commandment forbids Private Persons Thou shalt not kill to shed the Blood of another unless in their own Defence yet such as are in Office must punish Publick Offenders yea with Death else they sin To kill an Offender is not Murder but Justice A Private Person sins if he draws the Sword a Publick Person sins if he put up the Sword A Magistrate ought not to let the Sword of Justice rust in the Scabbard As the Magistrate should not let the Sword be too sharp by Severity so neither should the Edge of it be blunted by too much Lenity Caution II. Neither doth this Commandment Thou shalt not kill prohibit a Iust War When Mens Sins grow ripe and long Plenty hath bred Surfeit Then God saith Sword go through the Land Ezek. 14.17 God did abet the War between the Tribes of Israel and Benjamin When the Iniquity of the Amorites was full then God sent Israel to commence a War against them Iudg. 11.21 Vse I. Lamentation That this Land is so defiled with Blood Numb 35.33 How common is this Sin in this Hectoring Age England's Sins are written in Letters of Blood Some make no more of killing Men than Sheep Ier. 2.34 In thy Skirts is found the Blood of the poor Innocents Iunius reads it in Alis and so in Hebrew In Thy Wings is found the Blood of Innocents It alludes to the Birds of Prey which stain their Wings with the Blood of other Birds May not the Lord justly take up a Controversie with the Inhabitants of the Land because Blood toucheth Blood Hos. 4.2 There is a Concatenation a Plurality of Murders And that which may encrease our Lamentation is that not only Man's Blood is shed among us but Chrst's Blood Such as are profane flagitious Sinners are said to Crucify the Son of God afresh Heb. 6.6 1. They Swear by his Blood and so do as it were make his Wounds bleed afresh 2. Crucifie Christ in his Members Why persecutest thou me The Foot being trodden on the Head cried out 3. If it lay in their Power were Christ alive on Earth they would nail him again to the Cross. Thus Men Crucifie Christ afresh And if Man's Blood doth so cry how loud will Christ's Blood cry against Sinners Vse II. Beware of having your Hands imbrued in the Blood of others Obj. But such a one hath wronged me by Defamation or other ways and if I spill his Blood I do but revenge my own Quarrel Resp. If he hath done you wrong the Law is open but take heed of shedding Blood What because he hath wronged you will you therefore wrong God Is it not a Wrong to God to take his Work out of his Hand He hath said Vengeance is mine and I will repay Rom. 12.19 But you will take upon you to revenge your self You will be both Plantiff and Judge and Executioner your self This is an high Wrong done to God and he will not hold you guiltless Now to deterr all from having their Hands defiled with Blood consider what a Sin Murder is 1. A God-affronting Sin It is a Breach of Commandment trampling upon God's Royal Edict It is a Wrong offered to God's Image Gen. 9.6 In the Image of God made he Man It is a tearing God's Picture and breaking in Pieces the King of Heavens Broad-Seal Man is the Temple of God 1 Cor. 6.19 Know ye not that your Body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost So that the Man-slayer destroys God's Temple And will God endure to be thus confronted by proud Dust 2. It is a crying Sin Clamitat in Coelum vox Sanguinis There are three Sins in Scripture said to cry 1. Oppression Psal. 12.5 2. Sodomy Gen. 18.21 3. Blood-shed This comes so loud that it drowns all the other Cries Gen. 4.10 The Voice of thy Brothers Blood cries unto me from the Ground Abel's Blood had as many Tongues as Drops to cry aloud for Vengeance This Sin of Blood lay heavy on David's Conscience Tho he had sinned by Adultery yet that he cried out of most was this Crimson Sin of Blood Psal. 51.14 Deliver me from Blood-guiltiness O God Tho the Lord visits for every Sin yet he will in a special manner make Inquisition for Blood Psal. 9.12 If a Beast did kill a Man the Beast was to be ston'd and his Flesh must not be eaten Exod. 21.8 If God would have a Beast stoned that killed a Man who had not the Use of Reason to restrain him then much more will he be incensed against those who go both against Reason and Conscience in spoiling the Life of a Man 3. Murder is a Diabolical Sin It makes a Man Primogenitum Diaboli The Devil 's First-born He was a Murderer from the beginning Iohn
8.44 By saying to our First Parents Ye shall not die he brought in Death to the World 4. It is a Cursed Sin If there be a Curse for him that smites his Neighbour secretly Deut. 27.4 then he is double cursed that kills him The first Man that was born was a Murderer Gen. 4.11 And now art thou cursed from the Earth He was an excommunicate Person banish'd from the place of God's Publick Worship God set a Mark upon bloody Cain Gen. 24 15. Some think it was Horror of Mind which above all Sins doth accompany the Sin of Blood Others think this Mark was a continual Shaking and trembling in his Flesh which was a Mark of Infamy God set upon him He carried a Curse along with him 5. It is a Wrath-procuring Sin 2 Kings 24.4 1. It procures Temporal Judgments Phocas to get the Empire put to Death all the Sons of Mauritius the Emperor and then slew him But this Phocas was pursued by his Son-in-law Priscus who cut off his Ears and Feet and then kill'd him Charles the 9 th who caused the Massacre of so many Christians at Paris Blood issued out at several parts of his Body of which he died Albonia kill'd a Man and then made a Cup of his Skull to drink in afterwards his own Wife caused him to be murdered in his Bed Vengeance as a Blood-hound pursues the Murderer Bloody Men shall not live out half their Days Psal. 55.23 2. It brings Eternal Judgments It binds Men over to Hell The Papists make nothing of Massacres theirs is a Bloody Religion They dispense with Men for Murder so it be to propagate the Catholick Cause If a Cardinal put his Red Hat upon the Head of a Murderer going to Execution he is saved from Death But let all impenitent Murderers read their Doom Rev. 21.8 Murderers shall have their part in the Lake which burns with Fire and Brimstone This is the Second Death We read of Fire mingled with Blood Rev. 8.7 Such as have their Hands full of Blood must undergo the Wrath of God Here is Fire mingled with Blood and this Fire is inextinguishable Mark 9.44 Time will not finish it Tears will not quench it EXOD. XX. 12 Thou shalt not Kill 3. We must not injure anothers Soul This is the greatest Murder of all because there is more of God's Image in the Soul than in the Body Ths Soul tho it cannot be annihilated is said to be murdered because it misseth of Happiness and is for ever in Torment Now how many are Soul-murderers 1. Such as corrupt others by bad Example Vivitur Exemplis The World is led by Example especially the Examples of Great ones are very pernicious Magnates Magnetes We are apt to do as we see others before us especially above us Such as are placed in High Power are like the Pillar of Cloud when that went Israel went When Great Ones move in their Sphere others will follow them tho it be to Hell Evil Magistrates like the Tail of the Dragon draw the third part of the Stars after them 2. Such as entice others to Sin The Harlot by curling her Hair rolling her Eyes laying open her Breasts doth what in her lies to be both a Tempter and a Murderer Such an one was Messalina Wife to Claudius the Emperor Prov. 7.7 10. I discerned a young Man and there met him a Woman with the Attire of an Harlot so she caught him and kissed him Better are the Reproofs of a Friend than the Kisses of an Harlot 3. Ministers are Murderers who either starve or poyson or infect Souls 1. That starve Souls 1 Pet. 5.2 Feed the Flock of God which is among you These Feed themselves and starve the Flock Either through Non-residing they do not Preach or through Insufficiency they cannot There are many in the Ministry a shame to speak it so ignorant that they had need to be taught the First Principles of the Oracles of God Heb. 5.12 Was not he fit to be a Preacher in Israel think ye who being asked something concerning the Decalogue answered He never saw any such Book 2. That Poyson Souls Such are Heterodox Ministers who poyson People with Error The Basilisk poysons Herbs and Flowers by breathing on them The Breath of Heretical Ministers like the Basilisks Breath poysons Souls The Socinian that would rob Christ of his Godhead the Arminian that by advancing the Power of the Will would take off the Crown from the Head of Free-Grace the Antinomian who denies the Use of the Moral Law to a Believer as if it were antiquated and out of date these Poyson Mens Souls Error is as damnable as Vice 1 Pet. 2.1 There shall he false Teachers among you who privily shall bring in damnable Hereresies denying the Lord that bought them 3. That Infect Souls viz. By their Scandalous Lives Exod. 19.22 Let the Priests which come near to the Lord sanctifie themselves Ministers who by their Places are nearer to God should be holier than others The Elements the higher they are the purer The Air is purer than the Water the Fire is purer than the Air. The higher Men are by Office the holier they should be Iohn Baptist was a shining Lamp But there are many who infect their People with their Bad Life They preach one thing and live another Qui curios simulant Bacchanalia vivunt They like Eli's Sons are in White Linen but they have Scarlet Sins Some say that Prester Iohn the Lord of Africa causeth to be carried before him a Golden Cup full of Dirt A fit Emblem of such Ministers as have a Golden Office but are dirty and polluted in their Lives They are Murderers and the Blood of Souls will cry against them at the last Day 4. Such as destroy others by getting them into bad Company and so making them Proselytes to the Devil Vitia in proximum quemque transiliunt Sen. A Man cannot live in the Aethiopian Climate but he will be discoloured with the Sun nor he cannot be in bad Company but he will partake of their Evil. One Drunkard makes another as the Prophet speaks in another Sence Ier. 35.5 I set before them pots full of Wine and Cups and said unto them Drink ye Wine So the Wicked set Pots of Wine before others and make them drink till Reason be stupified and Lust enflamed These are guilty of the Breach of this Commandment they are Murderers of Souls How sad will it be with these who have not only their own Sins but the Blood of others to answer for So much for the First thing forbidden in the Commandment the Injuring of others II. The Second thing forbidden in it is the injuring ones self Thou shalt not kill Thou shalt do no hurt to thy self 1. Thou shalt not hurt thy own Body One may be guilty of Self-murder either 1. Indirectly and Occasionally 2. Directly and Absolutely 1. Indirectly and Occasionally As First When a Man thrusts himself into Danger which he might prevent